On Thursday, the Indian Navy successfully tested the K-4 ballistic missile with a range of 3,500 km from its newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighaat. The test carried out in the Bay of Bengal is an important step in strengthening India's defence. It improves the country’s ability to deter nuclear attacks and confirms its second-strike capability.

The test results are being closely examined, defense sources told news agency ANI. The highest military and political leadership will then receive briefings to evaluate the missile's performance. To ensure that India can retaliate in the case of a nuclear strike, this trial is essential to fortifying the nation's nuclear triad. The K-4 ballistic missile is an important part of India's defence, designed to be launched from underwater platforms. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out several trials to ensure the missile is fully ready for its long-range test, making sure it meets the high standards needed for strategic weapons.

The successful test boosts the readiness of INS Arighaat, which joined the Indian Navy in August 2024. The submarine was introduced at the Ship Building Centre in Vishakhapatnam and features advanced technology, including a more powerful missile system compared to its predecessor, INS Arihant. The K-15 missiles on the INS Arihant have a strike range of about 750 kilometres, whereas the K-4 missiles on the INS Arighaat can hit targets at a distance of nearly 3,500 kilometres. INS Arighaat is now a powerful addition to India's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, giving the nation more adaptability and power in its strategic defensive posture.

India's nuclear submarine fleet includes the INS Arihant, which is the first indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. It was commissioned in 2018. The third submarine of this class will join the Navy next year, strengthening the country’s defence capabilities. INS Arighaat was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who emphasised that the submarine is a demonstration of India's technological capabilities and the government's 'Aatmanirbharta' project. The construction of INS Arighaat involved advanced technology, thorough research and development, the use of special materials, and complex engineering. It also required highly skilled workers.

What makes it special is that many of its systems and equipment were created, designed, built, and integrated by Indian scientists, industries, and naval personnel. This submarine's indigenously developed technology makes it far more sophisticated than Arihant, its predecessor. India will be better equipped to ward off possible enemies and protect its interests as a nation with both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.