Successful launch of K-15 is a great achievement: Bharat Verma

28 January, 2013

India on Sunday successfully launched the medium-range ballistic missile K-15, code-named B05, from an underwater platform in the Bay of Bengal. This is seen as getting one step closer to integrate a nuclear missile with INS Arihant - its nuclear-powered indigenous submarine.

During the test, the K-15 rose to an altitude of 20 km and travelled a distance of 700 km to strike the target. An underwater canister set on a pontoon was used to mimic a submarine launch from a depth of 50 m in the Bay of Bengal.

“Since we are following second strike policy with respect to nuclear war so we should be able to retaliate in case we are attacked. One of the best ways to retaliate is to keep your nuclear warheads under water and launch them from a submarine. Therefore, K-15's successful trial is good news for India. Now it can complete its triad i.e. it will be able to strike from air, land and sea. Sea is most important as enemy is not able to locate where the nuclear submarine is. So, it is a great achievement,” Bharat Verma, a defence expert, told this citizen journalist .

With the launch of K-15 India has completed the first part of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLMB) programme. The country is also developing the longer range, 3,000-km version, missile (code-named K-4).

It was the 12th trial of the 10-metre long K-15, whose length is in tandem with the missile tubes on board the INS Arihant. DRDO, in a press release, said that the missile was tested for its full range and met all the mission objectives. All parameters of the vehicle were monitored by radars right through the trajectory and terminal events have taken place exactly as expected.

After this launch, India has become the sixth country to have such technology after the United States, Russia, the UK, France and China. Verma said that the success of K-15 has given India the required power of deterrence against nuclear capable state like China and Pakistan.

“Well, once you have deterrence then naturally China and Pakistan will also be careful i.e. not imposing a war easily. But the problem with Pakistan is becoming a different kind of problem where the chances of guerrilla type of war from Pak-based Jihadis are more than a nuclear or direct conventional war. So you need to recreate your infantry in a fashion that can take care of regular warfare by Pakistani Jihadis,” added Verma.

The country has already said that the INS Arihant will go on deterrent patrol aimed at providing the ability of a retaliatory “second strike” in case of a nuclear attack. The submarine will carry its full load of nuclear-tipped missiles that can be launched from under the sea.