Current Affair 1:

News:

India has tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, SOLID FUELLED, with a range of around 3,500 km from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Bay of Bengal, in a major boost to its nuclear deterrence and strategic capabilities.

With the test, India became part of a small group of nations having the capability to fire a nuclear missile from land, air and undersea.

The K4 missile was tested from submarine INS Arighat off the coast of Visakhapatnam. Even though the missile has been tested six times before, this was the first time it was fired from the submarine.

India’s SSBN inventory

India currently operates two nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN)—INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. The capabilities differ.

1. While both SSBNs are powered by 83 MW pressurized light-water nuclear reactors, their fire power differs.
2. INS Arihant is designed to carry the K-15 missiles while INS Arighaat can fire both.
3. INS Arighaat is equipped with four launch tubes on its hump and can carry up to 12 K-15 (K15 SLBM, the range was only 750 km) or four K-4.
4. Incidentally, while the ships have a displacement of about 6,000 tonnes, a third SSBN is also under trial with a displacement of 7,000 tonnes and is likely to be inducted next year.
5. Named ‘Arindham’, the new boat will be able to carry more K-4 missiles and will have a different reactor.

 

 

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