K-6 (missile)
Indian submarine-launched ballistic missile
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K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The missile has a planned range of more than 8000 Kilometres.[5]
| K-6 | |
|---|---|
| Type | SLBM |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | Under development |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Advanced Systems Laboratory (DRDO) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 50 t (55 short tons) |
| Length | >12 m (39 ft) |
| Diameter | >2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Warhead | 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), 4-6 MIRV nuclear/conventional weapon[1] |
| Engine | Solid-fuelled |
Operational range | 8,000–10,000 km (5,000–6,200 mi)[2] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 7 – Mach 7.5 (8,600–9,190 km/h; 5,300–5,710 mph; 2.4–2.55 km/s)[3][4] |
Launch platform | S5-class submarine |
History
The development of the K-6 missile, with a range of 6,000 km, was initially reported in early 2017.[6]
Admiral Arun Prakash wrote in 2018 that the missile range of the Arihant-class submarines is not sufficient to target potential adversaries of India; a missile with a range of around 6,000-8,000 kilometres[7] would be required for this task to be performed by a submarine patrolling in a "safe haven".[8]
When the missile payload limitations of the Arihant-class were realised, India began developing the S5-class of submarines and the K-6 ballistic missiles.[9] The developmental work for these missiles started in February 2017 at the Advanced Systems Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with a completion target of less than ten years.[9]
Description
The K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile.[10][11] It is a three-stage missile and is solid fuelled. It is planned to armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and will have a range of around 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres with a three-tonne payload. It has a planned length of over 12 metres and a diameter of over 2 metres.[9] It will be able carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.[12]
Development
The K-6 is being developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory of DRDO since 2017.[9] Testing of the K-5 missile will assist in developing the K-6.[13]
