| Is Missile: | yes |
| K-6 | |
| Origin: | India |
| Designer: | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Service: | Under development |
| Engine: | Solid-fuelled |
| Length: | >12lk=outNaNlk=out |
| Diameter: | >2lk=outNaNlk=out |
| Vehicle Range: | NaNkm (-2,147,483,648miles) |
| Filling: | 3000lk=outNaNlk=out MIRVed nuclear war-head |
| Launch Platform: | S5-class submarine |
K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The missile has a planned range of around 10,000 to 12,000 kilometres.
Admiral Arun Prakash wrote in 2018 that the missile range of the Arihant-class submarines is not sufficient to target potential adversaries of India; a missile with a range of around 6,000-8,000 kilometres[1] would be required for this task to be performed by a submarine patrolling in a "safe haven".[2]
When the missile payload limitations of the Arihant-class were realised, India began developing the S5-class of submarines and the K-6 ballistic missiles.[3] The developmental work for these missiles started in February 2017 at the Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with a completion target of less than ten years.
The K-6 is an intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile.[4] [5] It is a three-stage missile and is solid fuelled. It is planned to armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and will have a range of around 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres with a three-tonne payload. It has a planned length of over 12 metres and a diameter of over 2 metres.
The K-6 is being developed by the Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory of (DRDO) since 2017. Testing of the K-5 missile will assist in developing the K-6.[6]