India nears sea-based nuclear triad with k-4

{ MISSILE CLEARS KEY TEST

- Shishir Gupta

India is set for the final operational validation of its sea-based nuclear triad with its 3,500-km-range K-4 submarine launched nuclear ballistic missile requiring a few more test-firings before being inducted into the country’s nuclear arsenal operated by tri-services Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

DRDO tested the K-4 missile, launched from Indian nuclear powered ballistic missile (SSBN) INS Arighaat, in the Bay of Bengal on December 23.

While the Modi government normally does not speak about the country’s nuclear platforms and missiles, HT learns that the test-firing of K-4 missiles was delayed from the previous schedule of December 1-3 as a Chinese Ocean Mineral Resources Vessel was sighted 115 nautical miles on the southern edge of the navigation area on December 3. This Chinese vessel, however, did not have any missile tracking equipment onboard.