Balasore: Preparations are on in full swing by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district for test-firing of the medium-range K-4 missile, defence sources said.
Designed by DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamic Limited, the missile will be fired from submarines.
The 12-metre missile weighing 17 tonnes can carry nuclear warheads of 1,500 kg and is capable of striking targets about 3,500 km away, defence sources said. The missile’s range means it can hit cities deep inside China’s mainland.
It may be noted her that the missile was slated to be test-fired in September 2013 in the Bay of Bengal, but it had to be postponed.
It was successfully test-fired for the first time from the Arihant submarine off the coast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh March 7, 2016.
Sources in the defence ministry said it has been decided to deploy the K-4 missile with the Navy in a bid to strengthen coastal security.
Defence experts say the new missile will significantly help in boosting the Navy’s firepower, adding that the test-fire will come at an appropriate time as bilateral tensions with China are on the rise.
The missile will be test-fired either next week or in February, sources added.
