BIG: India to test-fire mammoth 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear missile

In a bid to strengthen India's capabilities, the armed forces have decided to test-fire a 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear missile from a submarine. The test-firing will be performed off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Friday. DRDO is developing the missile system for the Arihant class nuclear submarines which are built by India. These submarines would be the mainstay of India's nuclear triad - the capability to launch nuclear missiles from land, air and sea - which India completed in 2018. 

As per ANI, "As per plans, the DRDO will carry out test-firing of the K-4 nuclear missile from an underwater platform off the Vishakhapatnam coast on Friday. During the trial, the DRDO will test the advanced systems in the missile system”. The government sources also clarified that the test-firing of the K-4 would be done from an underwater pontoon as the missile is still being tested and launch from a submarine would only be done once it is ready for deployment. 

K-4 nuclear missiles  

The K-4 nuclear missile is one of the two submarine weapons developed by India. The other submarine missile is the 700-kilometer strike range BO-5. It is unclear whether DRDO will be testing the missile at the full strike range or shorter ranges, but India has issued NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) and marine warnings for long-range missile tests for the planned test firings. The K-4 missile test was initially planned for last month but it was postponed. DRDO also plans on the test-firing of the Agni-3 and BrahMos missiles in the coming few weeks. 

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Anti-Tank Guided Missile test-firing 

DRDO on September 11 had successfully test-fired Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile system from a firing range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. This was the 3rd successful test firing of missile system which is being developed for the Indian Army’s need for 3rd generation Anti-tank guided missile. The missile was launched from a man-portable Tripod launcher and the target was mimicking a functional tank. The Antitank Guided-missile hit the target in the top attack mode and completely destroyed the target. 

(With ANI Inputs)

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