Editing Strategic Forces Command (section)

=== Sea-based ballistic missile ===
[[File:B05 SLBM (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Sagarika (missile)|K-15 Sagarika]] SLBM]]
The [[Indian Navy]] has developed two sea-based delivery systems for nuclear weapons, completing Indian ambitions for a [[nuclear triad]], which may have been deployed in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Peri|first1=Dinakar|title=India's Nuclear Triad Finally Coming of Age|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/indias-nuclear-triad-finally-coming-of-age/|access-date=10 March 2015|agency=The Diplomat|date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/lvVxsu1L5GPLvD7Z5j3baJ/Nuclear-triad-weapons-ready-for-deployment-DRDO.html|title=Nuclear triad weapons ready for deployment: DRDO|date=2014-07-07}}</ref>
[[File:Arihant_1.jpg|thumb|A conceptual drawing of [[INS Arihant]]]]
The first is a submarine-launched system consisting of at least four 6,000 tonne ([[Nuclear submarine|nuclear-powered]]) [[ballistic missile submarine]]s of the [[Arihant class submarine|Arihant class]]. The first vessel, [[INS Arihant|INS ''Arihant'']], has been launched and will complete extensive sea-trials before being commissioned and declared operational. She is the first nuclear-powered submarine to be built by India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|title=The secret undersea weapon|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/The+secret+undersea+weapon/1/3659.html|access-date = 11 November 2012|newspaper=India Today|date=28 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="IT">"Indian nuclear submarine", India Today, August 2007 edition</ref> A [[CIA]] report claimed that Russia provided technological aid to the naval nuclear propulsion program.<ref name=eipyi>{{cite news|title=Russia helped India's nuke programme: CIA|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=18265|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122191933/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=18265|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2013|access-date=2 January 2013|agency=Press Trust of India|date=9 January 2003}}</ref><ref name=tda>{{cite news|title=Russia helped Indian nuclear programme, says CIA|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2003/01/10/top5.htm|access-date = 2 January 2013|newspaper=The Dawn|date=9 January 2009}}</ref> The submarines will be armed with up to 12 [[Sagarika (missile)|Sagarika]] (K-15) missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Sagarika is a [[submarine-launched ballistic missile]] with a range of 700&nbsp;km. This missile has a length of 8.5 meters, weighs seven tonnes and can carry a pay load of up to 500&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757940100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229234524/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757940100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 February 2008 |title=Sagarika missile test-fired successfully |date=27 February 2008 |access-date = 31 August 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Sagarika has already been test-fired from an underwater pontoon, but now [[DRDO]] is planning a full-fledged test of the missile from a submarine and for this purpose may use the services of the [[Russian Navy]].<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/06astra.htm |title=Coming from India's defense unit: ASTRA missile |work=Rediff.com |date=31 December 2004 |access-date = 31 August 2010}}</ref> India's [[DRDO]] is also working on a submarine-launched ballistic missile version of the Agni-III missile, known as the Agni-III SL. According to Indian defence sources, the Agni-III SL will have a range of {{convert|3500|km}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/000200805071441.htm |title=Agni-III test-fired successfully |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=7 May 2008 |access-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606185112/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/000200805071441.htm |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The new missile will complement the older and less capable Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles. However, the Arihant class ballistic missile submarines will be only capable of carrying a maximum of four Agni-III SL.

The second is a ship-launched system based around the short range ship-launched Dhanush ballistic missile (a variant of the [[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi missile]]). It has a range of around 300&nbsp;km. In the year 2000 the missile was test-fired from INS ''Subhadra'' (a [[Sukanya class patrol craft]]). INS Subhadra was modified for the test and the missile was launched from the reinforced helicopter deck. The results were considered partially successful.<ref name="nrdc.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab20.asp |title=Nuclear Data – Table of Indian Nuclear Forces, 2002 |publisher=NRDC |access-date = 16 July 2010}}</ref> In 2004, the missile was again tested from INS ''Subhadra'' and this time the results were reported successful.<ref name="bharat-rakshak.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Prithvi.html |title= Prithvi SRBM|website=www.bharat-rakshak.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918064715/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Prithvi.html |archive-date=18 September 2009}}</ref> In December 2005 the missile was tested again, but this time from the [[destroyer]] [[INS Rajput (D51)|INS ''Rajput'']]. The test was a success with the missile hitting the land based target.<ref name="domain-b.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20070331_fired.htm |title=Dhanush, naval surface-to-surface missile, test fired successfully |publisher=domain-b.com |date=31 March 2007 |access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{bigger|Sea-based ballistic missiles}}
|-
! Name
! Type
! Range (km)
! Status
|-
| '''[[Prithvi missile|Dhanush]]''' ||[[Short-range ballistic missile]]|| 350 || Operational<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spsnavalforces.com/exclusive/?id=174&h=India-s-Dhanush-Undergoes-1st-Night-Test|title=India s Dhanush Undergoes 1st Night Test – SP's Naval Forces|access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Sagarika (missile)|Sagarika (K-15)]]'''{{nbsp|2}} ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 700 || Operational
|-
| '''[[K-4 (SLBM)|K-4]]''' ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 3,500 || Serial Production<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/india-test-fires-long-range-n-missile-launched-from-under-sea-114032501060_1.html|title=India test fires long range N-missile launched from under sea|author=Press Trust of India|date=25 March 2014|access-date=27 July 2015|newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[K-5 (ballistic missile)|K-5]]''' ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 5,000 || Under Development<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keck |first1=Zachary |title=India's First Ballistic Missile Sub to Begin Sea Trials |url=https://thediplomat.com/2013/07/indias-first-ballistic-missile-sub-to-begin-sea-trials/ |website=The Diplomat |date=30 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[K-6 (missile)|K-6]]''' || [[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 6,000 || Under Development<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/dec/15/maiden-trial-of-pralay-k5-likely-soon-1911623.html|title=DRDO on long range Pralay, K5 to stalemate China soon|website=The New Indian Express|date=15 December 2018 |access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>
|}