K-6 Missile

K-6 Missile Latest News

In a major boost to its strategic deterrence and naval capabilities, India is developing the K-6 hypersonic submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

About K-6 Missile

• It is a nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
• It is under development at DRDO’s Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad.
• It is designed specifically for the advanced S-5 class SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) of the Indian Navy.
  • Larger than the Arihant, the S-5 will be 12 metres long, 2 metres wide, and capable of carrying two to three tonnes of warheads.
• K-6 Missile Features:
  • It is a hypersonic SLBM capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 7.5—or approximately 9,261 kilometres per hour. 
  • This staggering speed dramatically reduces enemy reaction time and makes interception by conventional missile defence systems virtually impossible.
  • The K-6 missile boasts an impressive range of 8,000 kilometers. India has previously tested the K-3 (1,000 to 2,000 km range), K-4 (3,500 km range), and K-5 (5,000 to 6,000 km range) SLBMs, with the K-4 and K-5 already inducted into the Navy. 
  • The missile is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads, offering strategic flexibility in both wartime and deterrent scenarios.
  • It is being designed with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) capability—allowing a single missile to carry and deploy multiple warheads at different targets.

Source: N18

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