India is set to take a major leap in its defence capabilities as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) gears up to test the new K-6 hypersonic missiles. Developed by the Hyderabad-based Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory (ANSL), the missile is designed to be launched from a submarine and offers exceptional speed, long range, and high stealth features.

Built for India’s new nuclear submarine

The K-6 missile has been specially built for India’s upcoming S 5 class nuclear submarine, which will be bigger and more advanced than the current Arihant class. Its first sea trial is expected to take place soon, positioning India among the few countries with powerful underwater nuclear strike capabilities.

Super fast and long-range

One of the most special features of the K-6 missile is its hypersonic speed. It can travel at Mach 7.5 (about 9,200 km/h) when re-entering the atmosphere. With a range of around 8,000 km, it can hit targets deep inside enemy territory within minutes. This is a major improvement over India’s current submarine-launched missiles like the K-4 (3,500 km) and K-5 (6,000 km).

The K-6 also uses MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology. This means one missile can carry many warheads and hit several targets at the same time with great accuracy. This gives India more flexibility in how it responds to any attack.

Hard to detect, very powerful

Because of its hypersonic speed and ability to change direction, the K-6 is very hard for enemy defence systems to stop. It can carry both nuclear and regular warheads, making it a strong tool for India’s defence and warning enemies not to attack.

Key features:

  • Length: Over 12 meters
  • Diameter: More than 2 meters
  • Payload: Can carry nuclear or regular warheads
  • Power: Stronger than the famous BrahMos missile

Very few countries, like the U.S., Russia, China, France, and the UK, have such advanced submarine missiles. With the K-6, India is set to join this elite group.

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