Recently, India successfully test-fired the 3,500-km range submarine-launchedballistic missile, K-4.
The test was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) from a submerged pontoon (a flattish boat that relies on floats to remain buoyant) off the Visakhapatnam coast (Andhra Pradesh).
A pontoon simulates the situation of a launch from a submarine.
The Circular Error Probability (CEP) of the missile is much more sophisticated than Chinese missiles.
The CEP determines the accuracy of a missile. The lower the CEP, the more accurate the missile is.
After induction, these will be the chief support of the Arihantclass of indigenous Ballistic Missile Nuclear Submarines (SSBN). It will give India the standoff capability to launch nuclear weapons submerged in Indian waters.
INS Arihant, the first and only operational SSBN, is armed with K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km.
It means that the submarine has to move closer to the adversary’s coast to launch the missile but the K-4 will be able to overcome that because of its range coverage.
