K Missile family
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The K family of missiles (K for 'Kalam'), 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 The Agni missile (अग्नि IAST: Agni ''"Fire"'') is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature. Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capab ...
counterparts.
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Pune, its main function is the research and development of technologies and products in the area of High En ...
(HEMRL) developed a new formulation of
composite propellant Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) is a solid-propellant rocket fuel. It differs from many traditional solid rocket propellants such as black powder or zinc-sulfur, not only in chemical composition and overall performance but also ...
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.


Missiles in the series


K-15 or Sagarika missile

The ''Sagarika''/K-15 missile (Sanskrit: सागरिका, IAST:Sāgarikā, meaning ''Oceanic'') is the
SLBM A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhe ...
version of the land-based
Shaurya missile Shaurya (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: shāurya, meaning 'Bravery') is a Vertical launching system, canister-launched hypersonic surface-to-surface missile, surface-to-surface Tactical ballistic missile, tactical missi ...
. With a shorter range than K-4 missiles it is to be integrated with Arihant class submarine concurrently developed for the use of
Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates si ...
. Sagarika/K-15 was developed at the
Defence Research and Development Organisation The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (IAST: ''Raksā Anūsandhān Evam Vikās Sangaṭhan'') is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, ...
’s (DRDO) missile complex in Hyderabad. The complex consists of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and the Research Centre, Imarat (RCI). DRDL designed and developed the missile, while the ASL provided the motors and propulsion systems. The RCI’s contribution was in avionics, including control and guidance systems and inertial navigation systems. Medium range K-15 ballistic missile has a range between 700 km to 1,500 km with varying payload. This will also get help from
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NavIC (acronym for 'Navigation with Indian Constellation; also, 'sailor' or 'navigator' in Indian languages), is an autonomous regional satellite navigation s ...
(IRNSS) to ensure guaranteed national access to precision navigation. These will enable high accuracy required for precision strike. The last development test of the missile occurred on 28 January 2013, from an underwater launch platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam.


K-4 Missile

This missile was developed after facing significant difficulties in compacting a similarly capable
Agni-III The Agni-III (IAST: Agni, ) is an Indian intermediate-range ballistic missile inducted into service in 2011 as the successor of the Agni-II. It has a range of and can reach targets deep inside neighbouring countries including China. Introduct ...
to equip the
INS Arihant INS ''Arihant'' (SSBN 80) (Sanskrit: ''Vanquisher of Enemies''), designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, is the lead ship of India's of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advance ...
. K-4 is an intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by DRDO. It is 10 meters long, weighs 20 tonnes, and can carry a 2 tonne payload up to a range of 3,500 km.
INS Arihant INS ''Arihant'' (SSBN 80) (Sanskrit: ''Vanquisher of Enemies''), designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, is the lead ship of India's of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advance ...
, first of the Arihant-class submarines, will be able to carry 4 K-4 missiles. The K-4 missile was successfully tested on 24 March 2014 from an underwater pontoon submerged 30 m deep. India successfully test fired the 3,500 km strike range nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on 19 January 2020. On 24 January 2020, the final trials were carried out by DRDO in which the missile achieved the near zero
circular error probability In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable (CEP) (also circular error probability or circle of equal probability) is a measure of a weapon system's precision. It is defined as the radius of a circle, centered on the mean, w ...
and hit the target 3,500 km away. This was carried from
INS Arihant INS ''Arihant'' (SSBN 80) (Sanskrit: ''Vanquisher of Enemies''), designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, is the lead ship of India's of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advance ...
and clears all validation test. K-4 has completed all the trials and been cleared for production by the government. It will be used to arm the Arihant-class submarine and future
S5-class submarine S5 is the code name for a planned class of Indian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines currently being developed for Indian Navy. S5 will weigh around twice as much as the preceding . It is expected to start production by 2022. Design ...
. It will greatly enhance India's nuclear doctrine as K-15 has range of 750 km and it will have the range of 3,500 km.


K-5 Missile

K-5 missile is reportedly being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian strategic forces’ underwater platforms. It will arm the future variants of Arihant-class submarines of the
Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates si ...
. Reportedly, DRDO is in the process of developing a submarine-launched solid fuel missile with a maximum range of 5,000-6,000 kilometres. In October 2020, ''
Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media, an entity controlled by the KK Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia. It was founded by Sunder Singh Ly ...
'' reported that the missile was then in development and expected to be tested by 2022.


K-6 Missile

K-6 missile is SLBM which is reportedly under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. It is a three-stage solid fuel multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capable missile with a length of 12 m, width of 2 m, payload of 2-3 tonne warhead, and a range of 6,000 to 8,000 km. It will arm the of ballistic missile submarines of the Indian Navy.


Significance

These 'K' missiles are intrinsically important for India's nuclear deterrence arsenal because they provide India with a much needed ideal and invulnerable second-strike capability stated in India's Nuclear Doctrine and thus shift the balance of power in India's favour in the Asian region.


See also

* R-29 Vysota * R-29RM Shtil *
R-29RMU Sineva The R-29RMU2 Sineva (russian: Синева, lit. " blueness"), code RSM-54, is a Russian liquid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile with GRAU index 3M27, designation SS-N-23A Skiff. It can carry four warheads and is designed to be launch ...
*
R-29RMU2 Layner The R-29RMU2.1 Layner (russian: Р-29РМУ2.1 "Лайнер" meaning ''Liner'') is a Russian liquid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and the newest member of the R-29 missile family, developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bu ...
* RSM-56 Bulava *
UGM-133 Trident II The UGM-133A Trident II, or Trident D5 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space in Sunnyvale, California, and deployed with the American and British navies. It was first deployed in March 1990, and rema ...
* M45 (missile) * M51 (missile) * JL-1 * JL-2 * Pukguksong-1 * R-39 Rif *
R-39M R-39UTTH BarkUTTH means "Improved tactical and technical characteristics", NATO reporting name SS-NX-28, was a Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. The missile was an upgraded version of the R-39 missile that was designed for the Typhoon ...


Notes


References


Further reading

* {{Defence Research and Development Organisation Ballistic missiles of India Intermediate-range ballistic missiles Intercontinental ballistic missiles Submarine-launched ballistic missiles