India K-4 Missile: India has carried out a very important missile test to show its strength under the sea. The country successfully tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal near the Visakhapatnam coast on Tuesday, December 23. Defence sources said the missile was tested for its full operational range of 3,500 km. This test clearly shows that India’s sea-based nuclear power has become much stronger.
The K-4 missile can hit far-away targets and plays a big role in India’s nuclear deterrence. The launch confirms that India can now strike from land, air, and sea. This puts India among a small group of powerful nations that have a complete nuclear triad. INS Arighaat is India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, and it joined service last year. The missile used in this test was inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024.
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How the K-4 Missile and INS Arighaat Work?
The K-4 missile is based on the Agni-III ballistic missile but has been changed a lot to work from underwater. The missile comes out of a silo inside the submarine, moves up through the water, and then its rocket engine starts once it comes above the sea surface. Defence sources confirmed that the missile is solid-fuelled and can carry a nuclear payload of up to two tonnes.
There was no official statement from the defence ministry about the test carried out from the 6,000-tonne INS Arighaat. However, sources made it clear that the test was very important for India’s security.
One source explained the next steps clearly by saying, “A comprehensive analysis will determine whether Tuesday’s test actually met all laid down technical parameters and mission objectives or revealed some shortcomings. It usually takes several tests for ballistic missiles, especially those launched from submarines, to achieve full operational status.”
The K-4 missile went through many tests using underwater platforms like submersible pontoons. The first submarine-based test from INS Arighaat happened in November last year, reported Wionews. INS Arighaat was commissioned on August 29 last year. Its older sister submarine, INS Arihant, became fully operational in 2018 and can only carry shorter-range K-15 missiles with a range of 750 km.
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Plans for India’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet
India plans to make its underwater nuclear force even stronger in the coming years. The third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, will join the Navy in the first quarter of 2026.
The fourth submarine is expected between 2027 and 2028. These submarines are part of the secretive Advanced Technology Vessel programme, which costs over Rs 90,000 crore. The new submarines will be slightly bigger at 7,000 tonnes compared to the first two, which weigh 6,000 tonnes.
India also plans to build much larger submarines in the future with a weight of 13,500 tonnes. These will use stronger 190 MW reactors instead of the current 83 MW reactors. Even though India’s submarines are still smaller than those of the US, China, and Russia, missiles like the K-4 help reduce the gap.
