K5 test likely to be conduct in jan

[amardeep mishra]

2m diamond is too big a hole for small indiaI Submarines.

Hi shaheen, the dia of the silo is 2.3m even as of now in arihant. So yes it can accommodate K5 even now. However what will need to be changed is ballast tanks etc to accommodate for change in buoyancy when a 20-25t missile is fired off one of the silos. The weight is significantly higher than that of K4. As I've said, in fact been saying for more than 2 years now, the emphasis on this side of the border has shifted to K series of missiles from Agni. They've developed higher ISP NEPE propellants and in fact are in final stages of substituting maraging steel from first stages with composites. This is how a compact package with height less than 12m and range greater than 5k can be achieved. Although I don't think K5 will be available to arihants. It'll still take a good 3-4 years before it matures enough to be put on any nuclear sub. Arihant and her sister ships will most likely get K4 and that's enough for now. India needs to first uprate the 89MW reactor to 190MW class before next gen of SSBNs can begin construction at vizag. The armament will be ready when those boats enter service. K5 will be similar to French M51.