| 'K' Missile family | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Underwater launch of a K Series Missile | |
| Type | SLBM |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | Aug 2018 (K-15)[1][2] K-4 being inducted (as of 2020).[3] |
| Used by | Indian Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| Produced | K-15 and K-4 in production |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 6[4]-7[5] tonnes (K-15) 17 tonnes (K-4) |
| Length | 10 m (K-15, K-4) 12 m (K-6) |
| Width | 0.74 m (K-15) 1.3 m (K-4) |
| Maximum firing range | 4,000 km (K-4 SLBM)[6] |
| Warhead | K-15:1 tonne, K-4:1-2.5 tonnes, K-5:2.5 tonne |
Operational range | 3,500 km |
| Maximum depth | over 50 m (tested) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 7.5 (Shaurya, which is land-based version[7] of sagarika K-15 missile)[2] |
Launch platform | Arihant-class submarine, S5-class submarine |
The K family of missiles (K for 'Kalam'),[a] is a family of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) developed by India to boost its second strike abilities and thus augment its nuclear deterrence. Information about this family of missiles has mostly been kept classified. It is reported that 'K missiles' are faster, lighter and stealthier than their Agni missile counterparts.[6][8] High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) developed a new formulation of composite propellant that is more efficient and provide greater thrust compare to Agni missile series. The objective behind the development is to make K missile family faster and lighter without compromising on operational range.[9]
| Name | Type | Range (km) |
|---|---|---|
| K-15 (SLBM) | SRBM | 750–1,500 (operational)[10][11] |
| K-4 (SLBM) | MRBM | 3,500–4,000 (operational)[12][6] |
| K-5 (SLBM) | ICBM | 5,000–6,000 (in development)[13] |
| K-6 (SLBM) | ICBM | 8,000–12,000 (in development)[14][15] |
- ^ "Nuke-capable submarine-launched missile operationalised, India in select triad club". The New Indian Express. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ a b "India To Begin Production of Nuke Missile". Defencenews. 27 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
- ^ "Sub-launched K4 ready for induction". The New Indian Express. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ "News / National: India successfully test-fires underwater missile". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hindu.com 20080227was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c "The Secret 'K' missile family". Indiatoday. 20 November 2010.
- ^ T.S. Subramanian (November 2008). "Shourya test-fired successfully". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008.
- ^ "India activates 'secret' undersea missile". The New Indian Express. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (31 December 2021). "The 'K' factor in the recent missile tests". India Today. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Front Page: Sagarika missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ Peri, Dinakar (19 January 2020). "India successfully test-fires 3500nbse;km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4". The Hindu. New Delhi. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Gupta, Shishir (7 October 2020). "4 missile tests, 1 deployed near LAC in 40 days as India shows intent". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Jha, Saurav (30 March 2016). "India's Undersea Deterrent". The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).