India has successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine. The K-4 missile was tested from the INS Arighaat on Tuesday, 23rd December, in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
India successfully conducted a test of the nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a strike range of approximately 3,500 km, defense forces told India Today TV. The missile was launched from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of… pic.twitter.com/nkayyWyhnd
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) December 25, 2025
The missile has a strike range of about 3,500 km, and this has significantly enhanced India’s capability to carry out nuclear attacks from the sea. With this latest test, India has further strengthened its nuclear force capabilities, particularly in its sea-based capabilities.
The K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile was officially inducted into the Indian Navy on 29th August, 2024. With this induction, India joined a short exclusive list of nations that have nuclear capabilities to fire missiles from land, air, and sea.
The missile has been developed from the Agni-III missile that was used for land-based launch capabilities. It is also the longest-range strategic weapon that India can launch from the sea.
For submarine use, the missile was redesigned so it can be fired from a launch tube inside the submarine. It first rises through the water, breaks the surface, and then ignites its rocket engine to fly towards the target.
The K-4 missile can carry a nuclear warhead weighing up to 2.5 tonnes and can be launched from India’s Arihant-class submarines. These submarines are designed to stay hidden deep underwater for long periods, moving silently through unknown parts of the ocean during deterrence patrols.
Because of this ability to remain invisible, the sea-based leg of India’s nuclear forces is considered the most secure and hardest to track. Submarines such as the Arihant class form a crucial part of India’s nuclear deterrence strategy.
The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in honour of APJ Abdul Kalam, who played a key role in shaping India’s missile programme through the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
