India successfully test fires nuclear capable K-4 ballistic missile
The underwater test of the nuclear capable K-4 missile was successful on Sunday. Sources in the government told the news agency ANI that the missile with a range of 3500 km was fired from the underwater platform off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has designed the missile for Arihant class nuclear submarines built in India. No anti-ballistic missile defense system can track a K-4 ballistic missile because of its speed.
India has successfully test-fired the powerful K-4 ballistic missile on Sunday, expanding its tactical capability to defeat the enemy. The missile, fired off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, has a range of 3,500 km and is capable of targeting enemy targets with a submarine.
Government sources said the missile was tested during the day with an underwater platform at sea. It has been developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It is to be deployed in Arihant class nuclear-powered submarines. India will further test the missile before deploying it to nuclear-powered submarines.
The Indian Navy currently has the Arihant as the only nuclear-powered vessel in operation. The K-4 is one of the two underwater missiles that India is preparing for the Navy. The second missile is named BO-5 and has a range of 700 km. Many countries in Pakistan, China and South Asia have come under the range of this missile capable of nuclear attack.
Why is K-4 special?
With the K-4 test, India has also joined countries such as the US, Russia, France, Britain and China, which are capable of firing missiles with nuclear capability from the water. Talking about K-4, it is special due to its technology and hypersonic speed (more than 6 thousand km / h). Because of this speed, anti-ballistic missile defense systems cannot track and destroy it.
Besides K-4, India also has a BO-5 missile
India still wants to test the missile further before deploying on nuclear submarines. The K-4 is one of the two underwater missiles that India has built for the Navy. The second missile is the BO-5, which has a range of 700 km. According to reports, several attempts to test the K-4 had failed within two years. It was scheduled to be tested in November last year as well, but had to be postponed due to the severe cyclonic storm “Bulbul” which had risen from the Bay of Bengal. DRDO also left no stone unturned to make the K-4 test a success, as it is considering making the K-5 only after the K-4 test. The range of K-5 will be 5 thousand kilometers.
