K-4 (missile): Difference between revisions

==Testing==

The developmental testing of K-4 started in January 2010, when the missile successfully ejected from a pontoon submerged 50 metres below the surface of water and breached the surface.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20101129-the-secret-k-missile-family-744797-2010-11-20|title=The secret 'K' missile family|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=20 November 2010|website=[[India Today]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045029/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20101129-the-secret-k-missile-family-744797-2010-11-20|archive-date=14 June 2018|access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref> The missile was originally scheduled to be initially tested in September 2013 from a [[Pontoon (boat)|pontoon]] submerged 50 feet underwater, but the test was delayed due to unspecified issues.<ref name="ie_hr" /><ref>{{cite news|title=India's K-4 SLBM awaits first launch|url=http://www.janes.com/article/26334/india-s-k-4-slbm-awaits-first-launch|access-date=10 December 2013|newspaper=Jane's|date=27 August 2013}}</ref> In the event, the first test was carried out on 24 March 2014 from a depth of 30 metres. The test was successful and the missile was tested to a range of 3,000&nbsp;km.  The launch took place from a pontoon submerged more than 30 metres deep in the sea off the [[Visakhapatnam]] coast. After a powerful gas generator ejected it from the pontoon submerged in the [[Bay of Bengal]], the K-4 missile rose into the air, took a turn towards the designated target, sped across 3,000&nbsp;km in the sky and dropped into the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref>{{cite news | first1= Ankit | last1= Panda| url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/india-inches-closer-to-credible-nuclear-triad-with-k-4-slbm-test/ | title=India Inches Closer to Credible Nuclear Triad With K-4 SLBM Test| date=13 May 2014 | work=TheDiplomat }}</ref>

It is reported that on 7 March 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/EXPRESS-EXCLUSIVE-Maiden-Test-of-Undersea-K-4-Missile-From-Arihant-Submarine/2016/04/09/article3370608.ece|title=EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: Maiden Test of Undersea K-4 Missile From Arihant Submarine|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref> the K-4 was successfully tested from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/K-4-Missile-Test-A-Roaring-Success/2016/03/16/article3329130.ece|title=K-4 Missile Test A Roaring Success|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=27 March 2016}}</ref>

A test of the K-4 was planned in October 2019 but got postponed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-to-test-fire-3500-km-range-k-4-nuclear-missile/articleshow/71934973.cms|title=India to test-fire 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear missile|date=2019-11-06|work=[[Asian News International]]|access-date=2019-11-06|via=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/drdo-news-documents/DRDO_News_25_Oct_2019.pdf|title=Submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-4 test imminent|date=25 October 2019|website=DefenceNews|via=[[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101011915/https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/drdo-news-documents/DRDO_News_25_Oct_2019.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2019|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> A test of the K-4 missile was expected to be held on 8 November 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/nov/04/four-nuclear-capable-missiles-lined-up-for-test-this-month-2056717.html|title=Four nuclear capable missiles lined up for test this month|date=4 November 2019|website=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> but got postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions caused by the [[cyclone]] Bulbul.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/critical-test-for-submarine-launched-nuclear-missile-this-weekend/articleshow/72286330.cms|title=Critical test for submarine-launched nuclear missile this weekend|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2019-11-29|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref> A test of the missile was expected to be conducted in December 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/submarine-launched-k4-missile-test-now-likely-in-mid-december/articleshow/72305389.cms|title=Submarine launched K4 missile test now likely in mid December|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2019-11-30|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>

Another test was successfully carried out on 24 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-successfully-test-fires-k-4-submarine-launched-nuclear-capable-missile/articleshow/73591070.cms|title=India successfully test-fires K-4 submarine-launched nuclear capable missile|date=2020-01-24|work=[[Press Trust of India]]|via=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> This was the final developmental test of K-4 and the missile was ready to enter serial production.<ref name="finaltest">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jan/25/sub-launched-k-4-ready-for-induction-2094389.html|title=Sub-launched K-4 ready for induction|date=25 January 2020|website=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-successfully-test-fires-k-4-submarine-launched-missile/articleshow/73589861.cms|title=Arihant's N-capable missile 'ready to roll'|date=24 January 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>