Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile:
India’s first ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSMN) INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).
- INS Arihant is India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile capable submarine, classified under the SSBN (Sub-surface ballistic nuclear) programme.
It was commissioned in 2016. - INS Arihant is presently armed with K-15 SLBM with a range of 750 km.
- The next in the class, INS Arighat is reported to have been launched in 2017 and is said to have been undergoing sea trials.
- Operations of the SLBMs from the SSBN are under the purview of Strategic Forces Command which is part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority.
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs):
- The family of indigenously developed Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), sometimes referred to as K-family missiles are codenamed after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
- Under the SLBM family, missiles of various ranges have been developed including K-15 also called Sagarika, which has a range of at least 750 km.
- India has also developed and tested the K-4 missiles from the same family, which have a range of 3,500 km.
