SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.
India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that outlines a designated area for a potential missile test from a submerged platform or submarine, with a range extending up to 3,490 kilometers. This development has fueled speculation about the nature of the missile being tested, with two primary theories emerging: a potential first test of the K-5 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) or a validation test of the K-4 SLBM.
The K-5 SLBM, under development for over eight years, is reportedly designed to have a range of 5,500 kilometers and is anticipated to be India’s first SLBM capable of carrying Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). MIRV technology would allow a single missile to deploy multiple warheads, each capable of targeting a different location, significantly enhancing deterrence capability.
The notice includes two separate impact zones, which aligns with the profile of a MIRV test, where multiple warheads or reentry vehicles are deployed across different target zones. A successful test of the K-5 would mark a significant milestone in India’s nuclear triad, reinforcing its second-strike capability and enhancing survivability against first-strike scenarios.
Others suggest that the test might involve the K-4 SLBM, which has a range of 3,500 kilometers and has been tested previously, including a successful launch from the INS Arighat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
A repeat test of the K-4 could be to Ensure the missile’s readiness for full operational deployment aboard India’s SSBN fleet and Testing the seamless integration of the missile with the submarine’s command and control systems.
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