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K-4 (missile)

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K-4
K-4 SLBM launch
TypeIntermediate-range SLBM
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2020s[1]
Used by Indian Navy
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
Specifications
Mass17 t (19 short tons)[2]
Length12 m (39 ft)[2]
Diameter1.3 m (4.3 ft)[2]
WarheadStrategic nuclear weapon
Warhead weight2,500 kg (5,500 lb)[3]
EngineTwo stage solid rocket motor[4]
PropellantSolid rocket propellant[4]
Operational
range
4,000 km (2,500 mi)[5][6]
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Inertial navigation system with GPS/NavIC satellite guidance,
Terminal: Terrain contour matching[7]
Launch
platform
Arihant class submarines

K-4 is a nuclear capable intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India to arm the Arihant-class submarines.[8] The missile has a maximum range of about 4000 km.[9][10]

Development

The development of the K-4 was undertaken after facing significant difficulties in compacting similarly capable Agni-III to equip INS Arihant which has a limited 17-metre (56 ft) diameter hull. K-4 has range comparable to Agni-III with major length reduction from 17 metres (56 ft) to 12 metres (39 ft). The gas-booster designed for K-4 was successfully tested from a submerged pontoon in 2010.[11]

Agencies responsible

The High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and the Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM) of the DRDO have been involved in developing the three motors responsible for propelling the K-4, the systems responsible for separating the stages of K-4, the low-thrust boosters, the gas generator and other components. The launch system of K-4 has been developed by the Naval Systems Group of the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers).[12]

Description

Strike range envelope of 3500 km centered at Bay of Bengal

The K-4 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile which is composed of two stages.[4] The missile is reported to be 12 metres (39 ft) long with a diameter of 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) and weighs nearly 17 tonnes (19 tons). It can carry a warhead weighing up to 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) and is powered solid rocket propellant. The DRDO stated that the aim of the missile was to achieve a high accuracy.[2] As a countermeasure against ballistic missile defence systems, the K4 can perform three-dimensional maneuvers.[1]

Deployment

K-4 SLBM Launch Video

The missile will be deployed on the Arihant-class submarines.

Ballistic missile submarine[13][14]
Class Vessel Tonnage Silo Capacity Status
Arihant class
 INS Arihant 6000 t 4 × K-4 SLBM Operational
INS Arighat Operational
INS Aridhaman 7000 t 8 × K-4 SLBM Construction
S4* (codename) Construction

Testing

K-4 Launch Log
Date/Time
(IST)
 Configuration Launch Site Duration Outcome
Operator
Payload Range Function
Remarks
15 JAN 2010
 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Visakhapatnam Coast — Success
DRDO Single mass simulator — Developmental launch
Tested secretly off Visakhapatnam on January 2010, the 10-m long and 1.3-m wide missile emerged from a pontoon submerged 50 m underwater and breached the surface. Painted black and white so that it can be distinguished in water. The test validated the ability of a 20-tonne projectile to withstand 50 kg of water pressure and eject from a submerged launcher before engaging its rocket booster.[15][16]
24 MAR 2014
 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Vishakhapatnam Coast — Success
DRDO Single mass simulator 3000 km First test launch
The launch took place from a pontoon submerged more than 30 metres deep in the sea off the Visakhapatnam coast. After a powerful gas generator ejected it from the pontoon submerged in the Bay of Bengal, the K-4 missile rose into the air, took a turn towards the designated target, sped across 3,000 km in the sky and dropped into the Indian Ocean.[17]
07 MAR 2016
 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Vishakhapatnam Coast — Success
DRDO Single mass simulator — Second test launch
The K-4 missile was fired at a depressed trajectory. Starting from successfully clearing the launch tube and breaking the water surface to stage separation and maintaining the ballistic trajectory, the missile achieved all parameters before zeroing in on the pre-designated target with high accuracy. The trial was stupendous and a copy book success.[18]
31 MAR 2016
  INS Arihant  - Onboard SLBM Silo Vishakhapatnam Coast — Success
India Strategic Forces Command Single mass simulator 700+ km Third test launch
The missile was successfully tested from INS Arihant, 45 nautical miles away from Vishakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh. The missile with a dummy payload was launched from the submarine in full operational configuration. The trial was carried out with the support of the personnel of Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and the DRDO provided all the logistics. The missile was fired from 20-metre deep and it covered more than 700 km before zeroing on the target with high accuracy reaching close to zero error.[19][20][21][22]
17 DEC 2017 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Vishakhapatnam Coast — Failure
DRDO Single mass simulator — Fourth test launch
K-4 missile did not activate during the test, with its battery getting drained after the launch command was given. It is believed that DRDO scientists were even unable to retrieve the missile from the test pontoon following the failure.[23][24]
19 JAN 2020
1:21 PM
 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Vishakhapatnam Coast 21 min Success
India Strategic Forces Command Single mass simulator 3500 km Fifth test launch
The test was conducted from a pontoon nearly 30 nautical miles from Vishakhapatnam coast. The trial was carried in association with Strategic Forces Command (SFC) while the DRDO provided all logistic supports. The missile zeroed on the target with high accuracy reaching close to zero circular error probability. The missile travelled nearly 21 minutes and covered its full range of over 3,500 km.[25][26] The test comes after several postponement for the last three months with that of November attributing to a cyclone.[27][28][29]
24 JAN 2020
 Submerged Underwater Pontoon Vishakhapatnam Coast — Success
Indian Navy Single mass simulator — Sixth test launch
Last developmental trial of K-4 making the weapon ready for its series of production and induction in the Armed Forces. Fired from a pontoon nearly 45 nautical miles off Visakhapatnam coast from a depth of around 50 metre, the missile was tested for a reduced range to validate new technologies incorporated in the system. The missile achieved all mission parameters before zeroing on the pre-designated target with high accuracy. The weapon was tested in its deliverable configuration with the active participation of Navy personnel.[30][31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sub-launched K-4 ready for induction". The New Indian Express. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Longest Range Ballistic Missile All Set for Undersea Launch". The New Indian Express. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  3. ^ "India to test a submarine-based ballistic missile". rusnavy.com.
  4. ^ a b c "India Test Fires Nuke Capable SLBM K-4 Secretly". The New Indian Express. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ Kurus (21 January 2020). "K4 The 4000km Range Submarine Launched Missile Tested Successfully | Indian Politics". Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  6. ^ "India successfully tests ballistic missile from submarine". South China Morning Post. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  7. ^ CSIS. "Sagarika/Shaurya". Missile Threat. CSIS. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. ^ Diplomat, Ankit Panda, The. "India Inches Closer to Credible Nuclear Triad With K-4 SLBM Test". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "India successfully test-fires underwater missile". The Hindu. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  10. ^ http://www.nasic.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=F2VLcKSmCTE%3d&portalid=19 [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ Subramanian, T. S. (28 January 2011). "DRDO plans another K-15 missile launch". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Key components of K-4 missile designed, developed in Pune". The Indian Express. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  13. ^ "From India Today magazine: A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  14. ^ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (3 January 2022). "Third Arihant class submarine quietly launched in November". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  15. ^ "The secret 'K' missile family". India Today. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  16. ^ "2010 a mixed bag for Indian defence research". The Times of India. 30 December 2010. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  17. ^ Panda, Ankit. "India Inches Closer to Credible Nuclear Triad With K-4 SLBM Test". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  18. ^ "K-4 Missile Test A Roaring Success - The New Indian Express". web.archive.org. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  19. ^ "EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: Maiden Test of Undersea K-4 Missile From Arihant Submarine - The New Indian Express". web.archive.org. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Nuclear-capable K-4 ballistic missile tested from INS Arihant". Firstpost. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  21. ^ Panda, Ankit. "India Successfully Tests Intermediate-Range Nuclear-Capable Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  22. ^ Bhat, Aditya (9 April 2016). "DRDO's nuclear capable K-4 underwater missile test-fired again, this time from INS Arihant: Report". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  23. ^ Pubby, Manu (24 December 2017). "Setback for Indian missile programme: Two failures in a week, submarine version stuck". ThePrint. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  24. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (3 January 2018). "DRDO lines up crucial trials of Agni-V and K-4 missiles". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  25. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (20 January 2020). "India successfully test-fires 3,500 km nuclear-capable missile K-4". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  26. ^ Peri, Dinakar (19 January 2020). "India successfully test-fires 3,500-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  27. ^ "K-4 Nuclear Missile Test fire: India to test-fire 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear missile". web.archive.org. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  28. ^ Pubby, Manu (29 November 2019). "Critical test for submarine-launched nuclear missile this weekend". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  29. ^ Pubby, Manu (2 December 2019). "Submarine launched K4 missile test now likely in mid December". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  30. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (25 January 2020). "Sub-launched K-4 ready for induction". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  31. ^ "India successfully test-fires K-4 submarine-launched nuclear capable missile". The Economic Times. 24 January 2020. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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