India successfully test-fires K-4 nuclear capable missile

News:India has successfully test-fired the 3,500-km range K-4 submarine launched ballistic missile.

Facts:

About K-4 missile:

• K-4 is a nuclear-capable Intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile.
• The missile has been developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).
• The missile has a maximum range of about 3500 km.It is powered by solid rocket propellants.
• The missile is to be fitted into the indigenously built Arihant-class nuclear-powered submarines of the Indian Navy.
• Only the US, Russia and China have submarine-launched ballistic missiles of 3,500-kilometre range.

Significance of K-4 missile:

• The K-4 missile has a Circular Error Probability(CEP) of 40 metres or less which is much more sophisticated than Chinese missile
• Circular Error Probability(CEP) is an indicator of the delivery accuracy of a weapon system.It is used as a factor in determining probable damage to a target.

Additional information:

About INS Arihant:

• INS Arihant is an indigenously designed nuclear-propelled, nuclear ballistic missile submarine(SSBN).
• The missiles envisaged for this purpose are (a)the Sagarika with a range of 750 km and (b)the K-4 with a range of 3500 km.
• The missile is designed to prowl the deep ocean waters carrying nuclear weapons and provide an assured second strike capability which is the capability to strike back after being hit by nuclear weapons first.