India successfully launched its K‑4 missile from a nuclear‑powered submarine, INS Arighaat, in the Bay of Bengal. The missile, capable of reaching targets up to 3,500 km away, is a major step in boosting India’s sea-based nuclear forces.
The test was overseen by the Strategic Forces Command. This launch strengthens India’s “second-strike” capability, ensuring the country can respond even if attacked first. The K‑4 is part of India’s efforts to complete a nuclear triad – the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the K‑4 is a solid-fuel missile that can carry a nuclear warhead of up to 2.5 tonnes. It is launched underwater, rises from the submarine, and then flies toward distant targets.
Before the K‑4 missile, India’s submarines carried K‑15 missiles with a shorter 750 km range. INS Arighaat, commissioned in August 2024, is India’s second nuclear-powered submarine capable of firing long-range missiles, marking a key milestone in India’s defence capabilities.
Defence analysts see this test as a clear message of India’s growing strategic strength, putting the country among a few nations that can launch nuclear-capable missiles from submarines.
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