India to test new nuclear missile

India is set to conduct a test launch of its new K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) as it seeks to develop a retaliatory nuclear strike capability against both China and Pakistan

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India SLBM ranges
In event of war, longer range of K-4 would allow India to strike targets in China or Pakistan from Bay of Bengal – major improvement over current K-15 missile

K-4 missile* Length: 10m Diameter: 1.5m Weight: 20 tonnes

Warhead 2.5 tonnes (maximum)

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Tehran

PAKISTAN

INDIA

Bay of Bengal: K-4 to be test-fired from submerged platform. Missile first tested in 2014

CHINA

K-15: 750km

K-4: 3,500km

Beijing

Jakarta

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INS Arihant
First of five ballistic missile submarines to be built by India

Length: 111m Beam: 15m

Crew: 95

Six 533mm torpedo tubes

Propulsion
85MW nuclear reactor. Speed, surface: 15 knots Submerged: 24 knots

Armament: Four vertical launch tubes can carry four K-4 or 12 K-15 (three per launch tube) ballistic missiles

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Sources: DRDO, H I Sutton, The Diplomat 

*Approximate specifications 

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