India tests submarine-launched ballistic missile

Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) India Tuesday test-fired an indigenously developed nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from an undersea location off the Orissa coast, an official source said.
"The missile was launched around 1 p.m.," the source said of the sixth test of the 700-km range Sagarika missile.

Since the Indian Navy does not have a submarine capable of firing an SLBM, the test firing was conducted from an underwater launcher positioned 50 metres under the surface of the sea and 8 km off the Orissa coast.

Prahlada, chief controller of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that developed Sagarika, said earlier this month it was also readying for a "crucial" test of the missile from a submarine.

"We have asked the navy for a submarine to enable us conduct the test," Prahlada - who uses one name - told reporters during the DEFEXPO international defence exposition here Feb 16-19.

However, this could be a while away as Russia is yet to respond to the Indian Navy's request for loaning an Akula-class submarine that is capable of launching SLBMs. The navy's Russian-made Kilo-class submarines and the German-designed HDW submarines do not have the capability to fire such missiles.

The success achieved last year with exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) and endo-atmospheric (within the atmosphere) anti-ballistic missiles, as also with the surface-to-air Akash missile, had apparently encouraged DRDO scientists to test the Sagarika again.

Powered by a turbojet, the missile can carry a 500-kg payload. It is 8.5 metres long and about a metre in diameter.