As regional tensions rise, India is strengthening its naval power to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean. Major investments are underway in aircraft carriers, stealth frigates, and submarines.

DRDO is developing the K-6 hypersonic missile for submarine launch, with trials expected soon. The K-6 hypersonic ballistic missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, is poised to enhance India’s naval arsenal.

With capabilities surpassing the BrahMos cruise missile, the K-6 will place India alongside major global powers like the United States, Russia, China, France, and the UK. The hypersonic missile, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, will be a formidable asset for the Indian Navy.

Indian Defence Research Wing, citing a former BrahMos project scientist, has revealed key details about the K-6 hypersonic ballistic missile. He shared that the K-6 SLBM can be launched from submarines and can target enemies at a speed of 7.5 Mach, approximately 9,261 kilometres per hour. This speed ensures that adversaries have minimal time to react.

Given its proximity to India’s maritime border, Pakistan’s economic hub Karachi could be a strategic target, potentially crippling Pakistan’s economy in a single strike.

According to a former scientist associated with the BrahMos project, the K-6 missile boasts an impressive range of 8,000 kilometres, covering the entirety of Pakistan.

India has previously tested the K3 with a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres, the K4 with a range of 3,500 kilometres, and the K5 with a range of 5,000 to 6,000 kilometres. The K4 and K5 have already been inducted into the Navy.

Once operational, the K-6, combined with the Agni 5 intercontinental ballistic missile, will form a formidable ballistic missile arsenal for India. The K-6 SLBM is being developed at DRDO’s Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad, specifically for deployment on the more advanced S-5 class SSBN submarines.

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.

The K-6 missile’s Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle capability further enhances its lethality.