India has successfully test-fired a new medium-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine, further enhancing its maritime nuclear strike capability.
The missile, identified as the K-4, was launched on Tuesday from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighat in the Bay of Bengal, near the Visakhapatnam coast, according to Indian media reports. The test is considered a major milestone in strengthening India’s sea-based component of its nuclear deterrent.
With a strike range of approximately 3,500 kilometres, the K-4 missile is capable of hitting distant targets with high precision. Defence analysts say the successful test significantly boosts India’s second-strike capability, a key pillar of credible nuclear deterrence.
The submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile was inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024. Its deployment reinforces India’s position among a limited group of countries that possess the capability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea-based platforms.
In recent years, India has intensified testing of missiles with varying ranges as part of broader efforts to modernise and expand its overall military capabilities.
