India develops submarine-launched ballistic missile, joins elite club

India has successfully developed its first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) for the indigenous nuclear submarine 'INS Arihant', joining an elite club of nations possessing such weaponry.

The SLBM, which can be launched from Arihant, has been developed successfully, sources said here.

Senior DRDO Scientist and Director of Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) AK Chakrabarti was honoured today by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function here for his "outstanding contributions in the successful development of the first SLBM system for the nuclear powered platform Arihant."

The development of the underwater-launched ballistic missile will help India in completing its nuclear triad under which now it will have the option to strike from air, land and under the sea.

At present, very few countries including the US, Russia, France, China and the UK have the capability to carry out submarine-based ballistic missile strikes.

Specifications with regard to the Indian missile were not immediately known but its strike range is believed to be around 700km.