K Missile family

'K' Missile family
Type	SLBM
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	In production (k-15) 2017 (k-4)
Used by	Indian Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) & Bharat Dynamics limited(BDL)
Produced	K-15 In production
Specifications
Mass	6-7 tonnes (K-15) 17 tonnes (K-4) 2 tonnes (Air-launched)
Length	10m (K-15, K-4 present) 12m (K-4 future variant)
Width	0.74m (K-15) 1.3m (K-4)
Maximum firing range	5,000 km (unnamed Longer legged variant of K-4)
Warhead	K-15:1 tonne, K-4:1-2.5 tonnes, K-5:1 tonne 500 kg (Air-Launched Version)
Blast yield	K-4: 200-250 kilotons
Operational range	3,500 km
Maximum depth	over 50m (tested)
Maximum speed	Mach 7.5 (Shaurya, which is land-based version of sagarika K-15 missile)
Launch platform	Arihant class submarine

The K family of missiles is a series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) developed by India to boost its second-strike capabilities and thus the nuclear deterrence. Information about this family of missiles has mostly been kept classified. "The classified 'K' missile family" is known as the "Black Project" which DRDO officials are covertly working on. It is reported that "the top secret indigenous "K" missiles are faster, lighter and stealthier."

Missiles in the series

TYPE	RANGE	Weight	Warhead	length	Status
K-15	750 km-1,500 km	6-7 tonnes	1 tonne	10 m	K-15/B-05 in series production. Land-based missile awaiting clearance. Tests completed.
K-4 Mark I	3,500 km	20 tonnes	2.5 tonnes	10 m	As of January 2014, at least six more tests to be performed before induction in 2017.
K-4 Mark II	5,000 km	17 tonnes	1 tonne	12 m	Under development
Air Launched	200 km	2 tonnes	500 kg	4 m	Hypersonic missile project called ‘Air launched article’. It is designated to fit with Sukhoi Su-30-MKI. First prototype will be ready by 2012.
K-5	6,000 km	Unspecified	1 tonne	Unspecified	Under Development by DRDO

K-15 or Sagarika K-15 missile

Main article: Sagarika (missile)

The Sagarika/K-15 missile (Sanskrit: सागरिका, IAST:Sāgarikā, meaning Oceanic) is the SLBM version of the land-based Shaurya missile. 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.

Sagarika/K-15 was developed at the DRDO’s missile complex in Hyderabad. The complex consists of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (D.R.D.L.), 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 (IRNSS), expected to be ready by 2014, to ensure guaranteed national access to precision navigation. These will enable high accuracy required for precision strike. The last developmental test of the missile was conducted on January 27, 2013 from an under water launch platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam .

K-4 Missile

Main article: K-4 (SLBM)

K-4, named after former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is the next significant development under the K-X series by DRDO. It was covertly tested off the coast of Visakhapatnam in January, 2010. However, any detail regarding the developments in this project are confidential and this project is sometimes referred to as "BLACK PROJECT" whose existence is neither denied nor acknowledged by DRDO. While there are some reports that claim that K-4 is a submarine-launched version of AGNI-V, other reports state that it is actually a SLBM Version of the Agni-III missile that is being worked on. The goal of this project is to expand the second-strike options for the country, DRDO scientists told reporters during a briefing. A total of 258 private firms and 20 DRDO laboratories were involved in this venture. The Missile is said to have two variants. One with a range of 3,500 km that is 10 m long and the other with a range of 5,000 km will be 12 m long to arm future nuclear submarines of the Arihant class. K-4 will provide India with the capability to target China and Pakistan simultaneously. INS Arihant, first of the Arihant Class Submarines, will be able to carry 4 (10m long) K-4s or 12 K-15s.

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. Reportedly, DRDO is in the process of developing a submarine-launched solid fuel missile with a maximum range of 6,000 kilometers and a payload of one tonne. However, there is strong opacity regarding the existence of such a project.

Significance

These 'K' missiles are intrinsically important for India's nuclear deterrent 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 Asian region.

See also

• Agni missile system
• Arihant class submarine
• Agni III
• Agni V
• Shaurya (missile)
• List of nuclear weapons
• List of states with nuclear weapons

References

Further reading

• Cohen, Bharat Karnad ; foreword by Stephen P. (2008). India's nuclear policy. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Security International. ISBN 0275999467.