India on January 27 successfully test-fired the underwater
ballistic missile, K-15 (code-named B05), off the Visakhapatnam coast,
marking en end to a series of developmental trials.
In
its twelfth flight trial, the 10-metre tall Submarine-Launched
Ballistic Missile (SLBM) lifted off from a pontoon, rose to an altitude
of 20 km and reached a distance of about 700 km as it splashed down in
the waters of the Bay of Bengal near the pre-designated target point.
According
to scientific advisor to the Defence Minister V.K. Saraswat, the
missile was tested for its full range of 700 km and the mission met all
its objectives. He said the impact accuracy of the medium range
strategic missile was in single digit.
With the
completion of developmental trials, the process of integrating K-15
missile with INS Arihant, the indigenously-built nuclear submarine, will
begin soon. As many as 12 nuclear-tipped missiles, each weighing six
tonnes will be integrated with Arihant, which will be powered by an 80
MWt (thermal) reactor that uses enriched uranium as fuel and light water
as coolant and moderator.
India is only the fifth country to have such a missile -- the other four are the United States, Russia, France and China.
Meanwhile
the reactor has been integrated with the submarine and it was expected
to go critical in May/ June 2013. Once that was done, the harbour trials
will begin.
Besides Arihant, three other
nuclear-powered submarines were being constructed -- one at
Visakhapatnam and two at Vadodara. India is also developing K-4 missile
with a range of 3,000 km.
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