SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
An alleged image of India’s K-15 Sagarika Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), also known as B05, going through a sequential launch from an Arihant-class nuclear submarine has recently gone viral. The image reportedly depicts the missile launched at 10-second intervals, stirring excitement and speculation among defence enthusiasts and analysts.
India has been steadily advancing its nuclear triad capabilities, and the K-15 plays a crucial role in the country’s underwater strategic deterrent. The missile, which is designed to be launched from a submerged submarine, is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, providing India with a second-strike capability that is essential for maintaining credible deterrence.
The K-15 Sagarika, first tested in 2008, has undergone a series of tests over the past two decades, with reports indicating that it has been tested at least 15 times. In 2013, India successfully test-fired the K-15 off the coast of Visakhapatnam, marking its twelfth flight trial at the time. The missile, which is approximately 10 meters in length, can carry a nuclear payload over a range of 750 kilometers, making it a vital asset for the Indian Navy’s ballistic missile submarine fleet.
The K-15 is part of India’s strategic missile arsenal, which is aimed at ensuring survivability and maintaining deterrence in the event of an attack. With the capability to launch from a submerged submarine, the K-15 offers a stealthy and survivable option for delivering nuclear payloads, even in the event of a preemptive strike on India’s land-based missile systems.
In recent years, there have been reports that the K-15 has been tested from India’s Arihant-class nuclear submarines as part of user trials. The INS Arihant, India’s first indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), is a key component of the country’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. These trials are critical for validating the operational readiness of the missile in real-world scenarios, ensuring that it performs reliably when launched from a submerged platform.
Reports of these tests being conducted last year raised anticipation about the K-15 reaching its final operational phase, and the alleged image circulating now seems to add weight to these claims. Given the missile’s extensive test history and its refinement over the years, it is plausible that the image could be authentic, though official confirmation has yet to be made.
While the authenticity of the viral image remains unconfirmed, its circulation has reignited discussions about the K-15 Sagarika and India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. With multiple successful tests under its belt and recent reports of user trials from Arihant-class submarines, the K-15 is poised to play a central role in India’s strategic defense posture.
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