| K-6 | |
|---|---|
| Type | SLBM |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | Under development |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Specifications | |
| Length | >12 m (39 ft) |
| Diameter | >2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Warhead | 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) MIRVed nuclear war-head |
| Engine | Solid-fuelled |
Operational range | 8,000 to 12,000 km (5,000 to 7,500 mi) |
Launch platform | S5-class submarine |
K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The missile has a planned range of around 10,000 to 12,000 kilometres. [1]
Admiral Arun Prakash wrote in 2018 that the missile range of the Arihant-class submarines is not sufficient to target potential adversaries of India; a missile with a range of around 6,000-8,000 kilometres [2] would be required for this task to be performed by a submarine patrolling in a "safe haven". [3]
When the missile payload limitations of the Arihant-class were realised, India began developing the S5-class of submarines and the K-6 ballistic missiles. [1] The developmental work for these missiles started in February 2017 at the Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory of DRDO, with a completion target of less than ten years. [1]
The K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile. [4] [5] It is a three-stage missile and is solid fuelled. It is planned to armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and will have a range of around 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres with a three-tonne payload. It has a planned length of over 12 metres and a diameter of over 2 metres. [1]
The K-6 is being developed by the Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation since 2017. [1] Testing of the K-5 missile will assist in developing the K-6. [6]
A ballistic missile (BM) is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are powered only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Ballistic missiles differs in range; short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are launched on a sub-orbital flight. They are internally guided, those for short range are typically inertial-guided while those for long range typically have more sophisticated guidance.
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Agni-V (Fire) is a land based nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. The missile has a range of more than 7,000 kilometers. Chinese researchers allege that the missile has the range of 8,000 kilometers. It is a three-stage, road-mobile, canisterised, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile.
INS Arihant, designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, is the lead ship of India's Arihant class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
Agni-VI is an MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Armed Forces.
K-4 is a nuclear capable Intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India to arm the Arihant-class submarines. The missile has a maximum range of about 4000 km.
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India has studied, produced and used various strategic and tactical missile systems since its independence. Decades long projects have realised development of all types of missile systems including ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, air-defence, air-to-air and anti-missile systems. India is one of seven countries in the world with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and one of four countries with anti-ballistic missile systems. Since 2016, India has been a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
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 Arihant-class submarine. It is expected to start production by 2022.
K-5 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The missile has a planned range of around 5,000-6,000 kilometres.
