India has successfully conducted a test of the nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from its nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat, further strengthening the country’s sea-based nuclear deterrence.
New Delhi: India successfully tested the nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat, defence sources told India Today TV on December 25.
The missile, with an estimated strike range of around 3,500 km, was launched in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam under the operational control of the Strategic Forces Command. The Defence Ministry has not issued an official statement on the test.
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This was the second successful launch of the K-4 missile from INS Arighaat, following an earlier test conducted last year. The repeated trials indicate steady progress towards the missile system’s full operational readiness. Prior to submarine-based launches, the K-4 had been tested from submersible pontoons, making launches from an operational nuclear submarine a significant milestone.
The K-4 missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a solid-fuel SLBM designed to arm India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Its extended range represents a major upgrade over the K-15 missile, which has a range of about 750 km and is deployed on India’s first nuclear submarine, INS Arihant.
INS Arighaat, commissioned into the Indian Navy in August 2024, displaces around 6,000 tonnes and is India’s latest nuclear-powered submarine. Its induction has enhanced India’s strategic deterrence by enabling the deployment of longer-range nuclear missiles, thereby strengthening the country’s assured second-strike capability.
Globally, countries such as the United States, Russia and China operate submarine-launched ballistic missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 km. India’s K-4 programme is viewed as a critical step towards narrowing this gap and ensuring credible sea-based nuclear deterrence as part of the country’s nuclear triad.
Published: 25 Dec 2025, 02:11 pm IST
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