Indian Navy on Wednesday (November 27) tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, said several media reports. The missile was fired from INS Arighaat submarine. The Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) has a strike range of 3500-km. INS Arighaat is a 6000-tonne submarine. It was commissioned in Indian Navy just this year in the month of August.
Times of India reported citing sources that the missile was solid-fuelled K-4 missile. This was the first the missile was launched from a submarine. So far, it was only tested from submersible pontoons.
There was no immediate official word from the Indian Navy after the test that took place off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal.
It is expected that details about the test would be made public.
Previously, India had issued a public area warning and notice to airmen (NOTAM) for the period between November 27 and 30. The NOTAM was issued over a 3,490-km flight corridor.
INS Arighaat is the second nuclear-capable submarine in India's arsenal. It was constructed using advanced design and manufacturing tech that followed meticulous research and development.
The submarine has the distinction of having systems that were designed indigenously. The concepts of equipment were developed in India and the submarine was manufactured and integrated by Indian scientists.
INS Arihant was the first nuclear submarine India inducted into its navy. INS Arihant was commissioned into the navy in the year 2016.
India is planning to induct a bigger submarine in its fleet. With displacement of 7000 tonnes, the submarine is expected to be bigger than INS Arighaat.
