NEW DELHI — Following a successful test-firing Jan. 27, Indian
Defence Ministry officials say the Sagarika, a homemade
submarine-launched ballistic missile, is ready for induction. A
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist
said that in its first stage, the missile, named K-15, reached
an altitude of seven kilometers, and then the second stage
lifted it to 20 kilometers, where it cruised at a constant speed
of seven times the speed of sound. The missile has a range of
700 kilometers. The scientist claimed that the K-15 is ready for
induction, adding that the user trials will begin within a
month. Sources in DRDO said the K-15 project is being developed
with the help of Israeli scientists but no details are known.
The 6.5-meter-long K-15 weighs about 7 tons, uses solid
propellant and employs a strap-on navigational system augmented
by Global Positioning System equipment. It is accurate to a
circular error of probability of 25 meters. When the K-15 is
inducted, India will join a select clu