INS Arihant test fired submarine launched ballistic missile | K-15 or K-4 ?

INS Arihant test fires ballistic missile

As per the latest press release by ministry of Defence, INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) on October 14, 2022. The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy. All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated. The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence‘ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment. However, the MoD did not tell about the type of missile which was fired.

Possibility of K-15 Sagarika

INS Arihant designated S2 Strategic Strike nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is having displacement of 6,000 tonne. Arihant has four vertical launch tubes, which can carry total 12 - three per launch tube K-15 missiles or four larger K-4 missiles. The integration of K-15 Sagarika is completed and has been operationalised in August 2018. Therefore, the recent test is most likely going to be for K-15 Sagarika missile having a range of 750 km. It is powered by 2-stage rocket motor and solid fuel as propellant. The missile has a maximum speed of Mach 7.5. The missile uses Inertial navigation system with GPS/NavIC satellite guidance for mid-course and Terrain contour matching for terminal stage. The missile has demonstrated single digit impact-accuracy in the previous trials. The Shaurya missile is the land derivative of the K-15.

Possibility of K-4

There is also good possibility that the missile could be a 3,500 km strike range nuclear capable submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile. Back on 19th January 2020, India had successfully test-fired K-4 ballistic missile off coast of Andhra Pradesh. The test was carried out by the DRDO from a submerged pontoon which simulates the situation of a launch from a submarine. The most challenging stage of these missiles is ejection from a submerged platform to the surface. This test was undertaken in full operational configuration during which the missile traversed a distance of over 3,500 km in approximately 21 minutes, achieving a near-zero circular error probability. Another test was successfully carried out few days later, on 24 January 2020 which was considered to be the final developmental test of K-4 paving its way for serial production. However, there has not been any reported test firing for the K-4 missile from INS Arihant. So, it could be possible that the K-4 missile would have been tested from Arihant.

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