K-6 Hypersonic Missile: Indian Submarine launched ICBM

The K-6 hypersonic missile submarine launched missile will ensure not only an addition to India’s strategic arsenal but will provide the nation with not only an advanced sea-based nuclear deterrent capabilities but a true ICBM with 10000 km range. It will rival those of all the established nuclear powers. The land version of this will be the Surya 1 in the making.

The hypersonic speed, 10000km range, MIRV technology, and integration with S4 and S5 follow on nuclear submarines to INS ARIHANT series will position India as one of the most formidable naval power in the 21st century. As international and regional tensions continue to evolve, the K-6 will serve as a critical component of India’s geopolitical strategy, ensuring the nation’s ability to maintain peace through strength in not only in the Indian Ocean Region ,Indo-Pacific Region but beyond also.

The K-6 hypersonic ballistic missile represents a significant leap forward in India’s naval capabilities, positioning the nation among the world’s elite nuclear powers with advanced submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology.

This state-of-the-art weapon system, currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is designed to serve as the backbone of India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent till takeover by 14000km range K7.

The K-6 SLBM developed by DRDO’s Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Hyderabad, will have solid propulsion , composites, aerospace mechanisms, and guidance systems. The missile named after former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, reflects the country’s growing ability to establish a credible world wide second-strike capability in response to geopolitical security challenges.

Development of the K-6 began in February 2017, with a completion target of 2026. This timeline aligns with ourpolicy countering China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean region, particularly as Beijing deploys advanced Type 094 and future Type 096 nuclear submarines armed with JL-3 SLBMs capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 9,000 kilometres.

The K-6 missile boasts exceptional performance characteristics. According to former BrahMos project scientists, the K-6 can achieve hypersonic speeds of Mach 7.5, equivalent to approximately 9,261 kilometres per hour. This extraordinary velocity ensures that adversaries have minimal time to react or deploy countermeasures, significantly enhancing the missile’s survivability and strike effectiveness.

The missile’s stated range is 8,000 kilometres but no one is fooled. The 10000km + range provides India with unprecedented strategic reach from its submarine platforms. This intercontinental range capability allows Indian submarines to target potential adversaries anywhere in te world , from within the Indian Ocean itself , making ut a true World power.



The K-6 is designed as a three-stage, solid-fuel missile with physical dimensions to accommodate its advanced capabilities. The missile measures over 12 meters in length and exceeds 2 meters in diameter, with a payload capacity of 2-3 tonnes. These specifications make it significantly larger than its predecessors in the K-series family, reflecting its intercontinental-range classification.

K-6’s most significant technological features is its Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability. MIRV technology allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads, each capable of being directed to different targets. This capability dramatically enhances the missile’s lethality and strategic value, as it can engage multiple high-value targets simultaneously or overwhelm missile defence systems through sheer numbers.

The integration of MIRV technology places India alongside major nuclear powers the United States, Russia and China, in possessing this advanced capability. MIRV systems are particularly valuable for submarine-launched missiles as they maximize the strategic impact of each launch while minimizing the number of missiles required to achieve deterrent objectives.

The K-6 missile designed for deployment aboard India’s next-generation S-5 class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) with a submerged displacement of approximately 13,000 tonnes—nearly twice the size of the existing Arihant-class submarines.

The S-5 class submarines are designed to carry 12 to 16 K-6 SLBMs, providing India with unprecedented strategic firepower from its sea-based platforms. These submarines will be powered by advanced 190 MW pressurised water reactors developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), representing a significant upgrade from the 83 MW reactors used in the Arihant-class.

The K-6’s capabilities directly address the strategic challenges posed by China’s growing naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region. China’s Type 094 submarines, armed with JL-2 SLBMs (7,000 km range), and the future Type 096 submarines with JL-3 SLBMs (over 9,000 km range) represent significant threats to international stability. The K-6’s 10000-kilometre range and hypersonic speed provide India with a credible deterrent against any advanced system of any country.

The missile’s speed advantage is particularly noteworthy when compared to global hypersonic systems. While the fastest missiles in the world, such as Russia’s Avangard (Mach 20-27) and China’s DF-41 (Mach 25), achieve higher peak speeds, these are primarily land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The K-6’s Mach 7.5 speed makes it one of the fastest submarine-launched systems globally, providing India with a significant tactical advantage in the underwater domain.

The K-6 missile will be providing a pfail safe second-strike capability, ensuring that India can respond effectively to any nuclear aggression, thereby strengthening deterrence and global stability.

The missile’s dual-use capability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads adds flexibility to India’s strategic options. This versatility allows for graduated response scenarios and provides military planners with multiple employment options depending on the nature of threats faced.

The K-6 missile benefits from advanced composite propellants developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), which make K-series missiles faster, lighter, and stealthier than their Agni counterparts.

The missile’s guidance and control systems incorporate state-of-the-art technologies developed at various DRDO laboratories, including the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and the Research Centre Imarat (RCI). These systems ensure high accuracy, with modern SLBM systems typically achieving circular error probable (CEP) values of 90-100 meters.

The K-4 missile (4000 km range) has already been inducted into the Indian Navy and successfully tested from INS Arighaat in November 2024. The K-5 missile (8000km range) has completed development and is undergoing partial developmental trials.

The K-6’s initial testing phases may begin in the late 2020s, with full operational capability coinciding with the deployment of S-5 class submarines.