K-4 or K-15 : Confusion over missile test | idrw.org
Two conflicting reports have emerged in mainstream media about monday's SLBM missile test , First report had indicating that a 2000 km range missile was tested of an submerged platoon off the Indian ocean and mentioned that it was the longest underwater submarine launch capable missile ever developed by India , it just fell short of mentioning it as K-4 missile .
Idrw.org have confirmed that K-4 missile will have reduced range test of less then 2000km for its first test flight and going by the media reports it was assumed that Monday test was of K-4 missile, since DRDO chief in media had mentioned that planned first flight of the missile was scheduled for the first quoter of 2014 .
But the second media report says that missile tested was BO5 aka K-15 and it was confirmed that the missile was tested for the second time and was tested in the full configuration but just fell short of mentioning range the missile covered in the mondays test . Not adding to the more speculation it seems like that K-15 was actually tested in pure ballistic trajectory with conventional payload of around 200 kg ( Minimum payload ) and missile actually covered around 1800-2000 km in that configuration .
so now the question which comes up now is what is 700 km range which DRDO keeps mentioning , well K-15 is a Hybrid Missile which can follow a pure ballistic trajectory or act like hypersonic cruise missile without leaving the atmosphere. which means missile is capable of performing trajectory corrections using an on-board inertial navigation system like a cruise missile which allows K-15 to perform descent trajectory, posing a difficult target for missile interceptors.
K-15 in hypersonic cruise missile mode will cover 700 km , while in pure ballistic trajectory with minimum Conventional payload ( 200 kg) will able to hit targets over 1800 km , there will be reduction in range with heavier payload . DRDO has the habit to put out missile range in full payload as the actual range , like for example Agni-V is dubbed has 5000 km range missile but that it range missile covers in Maximum payload capacity and with reduced Payload, missile can hit targets over 8000 km .