Army Variant of K-4 on Cards, Submarine test deferred

[samlove]

In May last year India secretly tested its most advanced submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) to date K-4 with reported range of 3500km from an undersea firing platform enforcing India’s Second strike capability which was achieved after India’s first undersea missile K-15 Aka B-05 with strike range of 750-km-range completed its Development trials few years back.

India’s first Nuclear Ballistic missile Submarine “INS Arihant” is likely to carry out first test launch of SLBM from Submarine by end of this year, DRDO Chief already has confirmed it will be limited to K-15 Aka B-05 and other missiles (K-4) will be integrated at later stage .

While DRDO has been tight-lipped about speaking on secretive K-4 SLBM, earlier this year it released a 4 Sec video of K-4 showcased at Aero India 2015 earlier this year but have refused to reveal further information on the missile system .

Sources have informed us that K-4 user trials from INS Arihant Submarine might take place in 2017 after series of Weapons trials including that of K-15 SLBM is completed by Arihant before it is commissioned in Indian Navy .

DRDO is also interested in offering a land-based Canister variant of K-4 to Strategic Nuclear Command which handles the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads.

a land-based variant of K-4 promises to be highly mobile due to the shorter dimension of the missile size with better precision strike capability.DRDO which already has developed Canister variant of Agni-V
plans to develop more Canister based variants of ballistic missiles which are currently operational under the SFC.

DRDO reportedly is also working on longer-range K-5 SLBM which will have a strike range of more than 5000km but has not disclosed any testing window for the new missile in future

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Who else want to see a canistered, road mobile army version of this?

 

[انگریز]

Who else want to see a canistered, road mobile army version of this?

Seems like a weird early stage test.
Weird thing is top mounted twin boosters. I havent seen a ballistic missile with boosters on top. They are supposed to be at the bottom. Missile seems to be hanging under two boosters.
@HRK
@Deterrent

 

[IND151]

K 4 will be a game changer truly.

K 4 LV may replace Agni 2 eventually.

 

[Maarkhoor]

 

[silent poison]

The Missile it will replace ? Agni series is not that old :p

 

[Skull and Bones]

Who else want to see a canistered, road mobile army version of this?

A SLBM is more strategic in nature, don't you think so?

 

[IND151]

A SLBM is more strategic in nature, don't you think so?

Yes but we need LV of K 4 too.

Such version can replace Agni 2..........

 

[Water Car Engineer]

A SLBM is more strategic in nature, don't you think so?

I mean, they're all strategic in nature.

India actually did this before. Shaurya, is the land version of K15 SLBM.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Seems like a weird early stage test.
Weird thing is top mounted twin boosters. I havent seen a ballistic missile with boosters on top. They are supposed to be at the bottom. Missile seems to be hanging under two boosters.
@HRK
@Deterrent

They are not boosters - This mechanism is known as supercavitation - through a cavitator which is a an explosive gas generator, pushing the water aside to facilitate free upward motion of the missile, and is ejected after the missile's ejection.

Supercavitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Russian R-39 Sineva (SS-N-20) SLBM uses a similar mechanism.

 

[HRK]

Seems like a weird early stage test.
Weird thing is top mounted twin boosters. I havent seen a ballistic missile with boosters on top. They are supposed to be at the bottom. Missile seems to be hanging under two boosters.
@HRK
@Deterrent

this link might be helpful for basic understanding

Patent WO2008105930A2 - Supercavitation weapons launcher - Google Patents

 

[HRK]

You did not understand my querry. Usually the booster pushing missile out of water is underneath the missile. Here it seems like two boosters on top. Thats new and impractical for actual use other than experimenting

these are not 'main' boosters to push the missile but to assist the missile to pass through the water by creating less resistance / water drag & to increase the speed of missile in water further it also increase the efficiency of under sea missile launch mechanism; main booster of the missile starts after certain time & at the certain heigh

watch this video (concentrate at 00:11 till 00:14) of Trident II test launch

File ASO 25 Video (Cleared for Release) VP8 001 Trident II UGM 133A Test Launch 02 June 2014.webm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now compare it with this video (main booster kicks in at 0:09)

You can observe the height K-4 achieved as compare to Trident & the difference of speed b/w the two ....

 

[PARIKRAMA]

these are not 'main' boosters to push the missile but to assist the missile to pass through the water by creating less resistance / water drag & to increase the speed of missile in water further it also increase the efficiency of under sea missile launch mechanism; main booster of the missile starts after certain time & at the certain heigh

watch this video (concentrate at 00:11 till 00:14) of Trident II test launch

File ASO 25 Video (Cleared for Release) VP8 001 Trident II UGM 133A Test Launch 02 June 2014.webm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now compare it with this video (main booster kicks in at 0:09)

You can observe the height K-4 achieved as compare to Trident & the difference of speed b/w the two ....

With all due respect, can you point out your observations on the comparision. we do know the capability of Trident. But since K4 is more of unknown project, even finer points can at times point to some good explanation.

@Chanakya's_Chant @Water Car Engineer As requested to @HRK if you folks also can point out perhaps similarity or the difference you notice about Height and speed part, it would be appreciated.

For others:
A canisterised land version much smaller in dimensions as compared to Agni series is a welcome change for any submarine launched missile of K family (K15/K4/K5). It helps us achieve a much greater road mobility capability and also lets us disguise more easily if its in dedicated train laden (again due to compact size). The storage and other benefits are there of course.

Trident II D5 specs and some points
KEY TRIDENT FACTS
Length: 44ft (13m)
Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)
Diameter: 83 inches (2.1m)
Range: 7,500 miles (12,000km)
Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocket
Cost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile

Launch sequence

• During a Vanguard patrol, the missile payload is carried upright in launch tubes behind the submarine fin, or conning tower.
• At launch, the pressure of expanding gas in the tube forces the missile out and to the ocean surface where, once it is far enough from the submarine, the solid fuel in the first of three stage motors ignites.
• At the same time, an aerospike designed to reduce drag by around 50% extends from the tip of the missile.
• Once the missile reaches space, its stellar sighting guidance system takes a reading from the stars to work out the missile's position and make any adjustments necessary to the pre-programmed route to its target area.
• A second - or boost stage - rocket then fires, followed by the third stage. Within approximately two minutes from launch the missile is travelling at over 20,000ft (6,100 metres) a second.

BBC News - Trident missile factfile

 

[HRK]

With all due respect, can you point out your observations on the comparision. we do know the capability of Trident. But since K4 is more of unknown project, even finer points can at times point to some good explanation.

As you said for K-4 not much information is available therefore its difficult to comments ....

 

[انگریز]

Looking at the height the missile jumps out of water, it has to be far lighter than trident. Trident does not go that high.

Looking at the height the missile jumps out of water, it has to be far lighter than trident. Trident does not go that high.