The Indian Navy has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of its nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), K-15 Sagarika, in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam, India, marking completion of its developmental trials.

During the 12th flight trial, the K-15 SLBM flew with a strike range of 700km at an altitude of 20km to hit the pre-designated target point following its launch from an underwater pontoon simulating a submarine launcher.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed K-15 underwater missile completes India’s nuclear triad capability to fire missiles from land, air and sea.

“The medium range K-5 ballistic missile was test-fired successfully from an underwater pontoon and all parameters of the test-firing were met."

DRDO chief VK Saraswat was quoted by Press Trust of India (PTI) as saying: "The medium range K-5 ballistic missile was test-fired successfully from an underwater pontoon and all parameters of the test-firing were met."

Following completion of development trials, the K-15 missile is scheduled for operational deployment on the Indian Navy’s domestically built nuclear-powered attack submarine, INS Arihant.

Capable of equipping 12 ballistic missiles in its arsenal, the INS Arihant submarine will also feature a range of other anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and torpedoes.

Designed to be launched even under ice caps, the K-15 SLBM, code-named as B05, is 10.4m-long and can carry a 5t nuclear warhead targeted 750km away.

The 6.3t K-15 missile will be later replaced with 3,500km-range K-X missiles.

As well as INS Arihant, three other nuclear-powered submarines are also being constructed for the Indian Navy, with one at Visakhapatnam and two in Vadodara, India.