New Delhi (PTI): India is all set to test fire its first ever under sea ballistic missile and join the select band of five nations who have the technology.
The missile K-15, with a range of 700-km, would be test fired from a pontoon immersed in the sea shortly, according to Chief Controller of the Defence Research and Development S Prahlada.
"We have completed all preparations for the first ever test launch of the missile and awaiting Governmet's nod," Prahlada told newsmen at the ongoing CII-sponsored Defence Expo here.
The defence scientist said the test would be conducted in the seas off the interim test range site at Balasore in Orissa.
He said the DRDO would need just one test to ratify the missile systems and the parameters which would form the main armament of the country's indigenous nuclear submarine expected to enter sea trials late next year.
With this success, India would join handful of countries like the US, Russia, France and China to possess such a capability and it would considerably enhance the country's nuclear deterrence, as sea-launched missiles will form crucial platform for the country's second strike nuclear capability.
The test, he said, would be conducted from a pontoon immersed in the sea as the country does not have a submarine platform to test fire the missile.
Prahlada said DRDO had almost perfected the dry-run trials on the key missile and it would be integrated with the advanced technology vehicle, as officials called the indigenous nuclear submarine there after.
The DRDO official said the preparations have also been made to conduct the second test of 3000-km range Agni-III missile.
"We are just awaiting the weather condition to improve to go ahead with the test," he said.
Prahlada said Agni-III would be ready for induction in the strategic command forces after two more tests.
In the course of his chat, the DRDO official said almost all the major missile system in the country had now been fully inducted.
"DRDO is now getting inquiries for various ranges of Indian missiles from different nations," he said adding it was upto the government to clear the sales keeping in view the international parameters.
He said proposals had been cleared by the government for a joint venture with Israel to produce long-range surface-to- air missile for the Navy.
The Government has cleared the deal worth Rs 2,500 crore and the advanced missile would be ready for induction in three years time.
He said parts of the missile systems would be made in India and the rest in Israel.
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