India on Tuesday successfully test fired its first-ever undersea nuclear capable ballistic missile off the eastern coastal city of Visakhapatnam [Images], catapulting it to the select band of five countries equipped with the technology.

The missile K-15, with a range of 700 km, was test fired from a pontoon immersed in the sea at 1258 hours and eyewitnesses saw the missile rising from the waters into the sky.

"The test firing was successful," sources said as Defence Research and Development Organisation awaited the final evaluations from warships in the sea.

This was the first full-fledged test of the missile, of which defence scientists had earlier carried out three to four dry runs.

The test was undertaken from a submerged pontoon as India does not have a submarine capable to undertake firing of such missiles, official sources said.

DRDO Chief Controller S Prahlada had said recently that it would need just one test to ratify the missile, which would form the main armament of the country's indigenously made nuclear submarine that is expected to enter sea trials late next year. 

With this test, India now joins a handful of countries including the US, Russia [Images], France [Images] and China to possess such a capability.

The undersea missile would considerably enhance the country's nuclear deterrence as such missiles will form crucial third triad of the country's second strike nuclear capability.

India already has the capability to drop nuclear bombs from aircraft having modified its frontline fighters Mirage and Jaguars to carry such armaments.

Surface-to-Surface short-range Prithvi and medium and long range Agni I, II and III form the land triad of the country's nuclear force.

Along with K-15, Indian defence scientists are also working on sea-launched version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile. French Company DCN international has recently

offered that the Scorpene Submarines being made under licence at Mazagon docks can be modified to carry undersea versions of the Brahmos missiles.