| Normally, a test of India's Prithvi short-range (300 kilometers) ballistic missile would not draw notice. However, a recent test launch near Chandipur was notable — not for occurring, but from where the Prithvi was launched — underwater. At present, five nations have ballistic missile submarines: The United States (14 Ohio-class SSBN), Russia (7 Delta IV-class SSBN and 2 Typhoons), France (a total of four SSBNs between the L'Inflexible and Le Triomphant classes — the latter are replacing the former), the United Kingdom (4 Vanguard-class SSBN), and the People's Republic of China (one Xia-class SSBN). With the successful underwater launch of the Prithvi, India has now cleared a major technological hurdle in its effort to join this club... |