Sagarika (missile)

Sagarika (IAST: Sāgarikā; en: Oceanic), also known by the code names K-15 or B-05, is an Indian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 750 kilometres (466 mi)[4][6] that was designed for retaliatory nuclear strikes. It belongs to the K Missile family and forms a part of India's nuclear triad.[7]

"B-05" redirects here. For other uses, see B5 (disambiguation).
Sagarika (K-15 or B-05)
A Sagarika flight test on 27 January 2013.
TypeShort-range SLBM
Place of originIndia
Service history
In serviceAugust 2018[1]
Used byIndian Navy
Production history
ManufacturerDefence Research and Development Organisation
Specifications
Mass6–7 t (6.6–7.7 short tons)[2][3]
Length10 m (33 ft)
Diameter0.74 m (2.4 ft)
WarheadHigh explosives, strategic nuclear weapon
EngineTwo stage rocket motor
PropellantSolid fuel
Operational
range
750 km[4] (435 mi) with 1,000 kg payload
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Inertial navigation system with GPS/NavIC satellite guidance
Terminal: Terrain contour matching[5]
Launch
platform
Arihant-class submarines

Description

The K-15 is a two-stage submarine-launched ballistic missile which uses a gas booster to eject out of its launch platform and rise up to the surface of water. A solid rocket motor is fired after the missile reaches a fixed altitude. The missile has a range of around 750 kilometres (466 mi) and reaches a maximum altitude of 5 kilometres (3 mi) during its flight.[8]

Development

Development of the K-15 missile started in the late 1990s with the goal of building a submarine-launched ballistic missile for use with the Indian Navy nuclear-powered Arihant-class submarines.[9][10] It was developed at the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) missile complex in Hyderabad.[11]

The development of the underwater missile launcher, known as Project 420, was completed in 2001 and handed over to the Indian Navy for trials. The missile launcher is developed at Hazira in Gujarat.[12] The Sagarika missile began integration with India's nuclear-powered Arihant class submarine that began harbor trials on 26 July 2009.[13]

By 2008, the missile was successfully test fired seven times, and tested to its full range up to four times. The tests of 26 February 2008, were conducted from a submerged pontoon 50 metres (160 ft) beneath the surface off the coast of Visakhapatnam.[9][11][14][15] A land-based version of the K-15 Sagarika was successfully test-fired on 12 November 2008.[16] A full range test of the missile was done on 11 March 2012.[17][18] The twelfth and final development trial of the missiles was conducted on 27 January 2013. According to DRDO Director General V. K. Saraswat, the missile was again tested for its full range of 700 km and met all its objectives with a single digit impact-accuracy.[19] The test will be followed by integration of the missile with INS Arihant.[20][21][22] On 25 November 2015, a dummy or unarmed K-15 Sagarika missile was successfully test fired from INS Arihant.[23] The missile was tested for a total of three times on August 11 and August 12, 2018. This completed the first phase of user trials of the missile.[1]

The missile was fully operationalised in August 2018.[1]

Operators
 India

See also

References
  1. "Nuke-capable submarine-launched missile operationalised, India in select triad club". The New Indian Express. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. "India successfully test-fires underwater missile". The Hindu. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  3. "Sagarika missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  4. "India tests new underwater nuclear missile". The Times of India. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  5. CSIS. "Sagarika/Shaurya". Missile Threat. CSIS. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. Unnithan, Sandeep (20 November 2010). "The secret 'K' missile family". India Today.
  7. "India gets sub-marine missile power". Ibnlive.com. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  8. Unnithan, Sandeep (17 January 2008). "The secret undersea weapon". India Today. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  9. "Final test of K-15 ballistic missile on Tuesday : Latest Headlines, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  10. "India ready for new missile test". BBC News. 4 September 1998. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  11. "Sagarika missile test-fired successfully". Hindu.com. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  12. "In a workshop at Hazira, Indian underwater missile launcher gets ready for trial". Indianexpress.com. 28 May 2001. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  13. "thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news India joins elite group". Thaindian.com. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  14. Pandit, Rajat (19 February 2008). "India ready to join elite N-strike club". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  15. "India can now fire missiles from under water". Ibnlive.com. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  16. India test-fires nuclear-capable missile
  17. "K15 test fired". Ibnlive.in.com. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  18. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/india-tests-3000-km-range-n-missile-in-secret
  19. "K-15 SLBM is a beast with gen-next tech". Indian Express. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  20. "India test fires missile from under sea, completes nuclear triad". NDTV. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  21. "India successfully test-fires underwater missile". The Hindu. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  22. "Report: India successfully tests nuclear-capable, medium-range missile". The Washington Post. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  23. Luthra, Gulshan (26 November 2015). "Nuclear capable Arihant submarine successfully test-fires unarmed missile". The Economic Times. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
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