India's larger SSBNs and the K-6 missile

What capability changes are likely in India's third and fourth nuclear ballistic-missile submarines?

More missile tubes and a more survivable deterrent are the likely aims in this assessment, with K-6 a hoped-for future armament rather than a confirmed fit.

India's larger follow-on ballistic-missile submarines appear intended to carry more missiles and strengthen deterrent survivability, although detailed plans remain unclear. Arihant is listed here with four tubes, the following subclass with eight, and the next generation is tentatively recalled as having twelve. The developing K-6 is discussed as a hoped-for armament for future boats. Its reported full-load range of 10,000 km is compared with an officially listed 7,600 km for Trident and 11,500 km with four warheads. K-6 is described as a little over twelve metres long and Trident as nearly fourteen metres, both a little over two metres in diameter. These figures are presented as reported specifications rather than demonstrated equivalence between the systems. The comparison draws attention to India's indigenous submarine and missile development.