Nuclear-capable undersea missile test fired

India on Tuesday conducted the first complete system test firing of its Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile...

India on Tuesday conducted the first complete system test firing of its Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile SLBM, christened K-15, from a fixed undersea platform off the Vishakapatnam coast.

However, it remains unclear whether the nuclear-capable missile, with a range of over 700 km, met all test parameters or was a 8220;partial success8221; like the first attempted test firing of the Agni III in July 2006.

Officials said that the missile, fired from a submersible pontoon, was seen breaking the sea surface before taking off into the sky but it remains to be confirmed whether it managed to stay on the designated trajectory to validate all its systems.

While the test took place on Tuesday afternoon, officials could not confirm till late evening whether the missile had met all parameters. Sources said that the flight data is still being analysed and it is too early to comment on the issue.

8220;We are still waiting to get details about the degree of success of this test,8221; the Defence spokesperson told The Indian Express.

The DRDO has been conducting several subsystem-level tests of the missile over the past one year. India currently does not have a submarine that can be used to testfire the missile.

The K-15 is designed to fit on India8217;s indigenous nuclear submarine8212;Advanced Technology Vessel8212;that will be launched for sea trials next year.

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The DRDO is now expected to work on integrating the missile to the indigenous nuclear submarine.

With the indigenous SLBM, India will join a select club of countries, including US, Russia, France and China, which possess such a capability. The SLBM project will complete India8217;s nuclear triad by giving it the capability of launching nuclear weapons from air, surface and underwater platforms. The ability to launch stealthy SLBM8217;s for a retaliatory strike is considered crucial given India8217;s stated no first use policy for nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates refused to be drawn in to the issue and said that Washington has to 8220;deal with the world as we find it8221;.

8220;India is the world8217;s largest democracy. It is in our interest to develop this relationship, just as it is in India8217;s interest. I do not think there is any risk, particularly from our standpoint in doing that. I think, we have a lot of opportunities for interaction with the Indians,8221; he told reporters on the first day of his visit.