While India could have only covered certain parts of Pakistan with K-15, K-4 enables it to have wider range covering not just whole of Pakistan but also large part of China.
The AUKUS deal was signed in 2021 with the US pushing out France, which was in talks with Australia to sell 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.
Satellite images from Planet Labs from June appear to show cranes at Wuchang shipyard, where the nuclear-powered attack submarine would have been docked.
Submarine can carry 12 K-15 ballistic missiles with a range of 750 km or 4 K-4 missiles with range up to 3,500 km. Major step in strengthening country's second-strike capabilities.
These submarines are 170m long & estimated to travel up to 29 knots once submerged. They stand out in stealth capabilities compared to their predecessors & can carry 16 Bulava missiles.
Deal envisages sale of American US Virginia class submarines to Canberra & development of a new nuclear-powered submarine. Beijing calls it ‘serious nuclear proliferation’.
Congressional Research Service report highlights challenges in expanding fleet. Schedule could derail regional plans to counter Beijing’s growing power over Indian & Pacific Oceans.
Chinese efforts at surveying and prying underwater, especially in the Indian Ocean region, have not ceased, and are likely to continue in the future too.
Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.
India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.
Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.
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