Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the domestically developed Agni-5 missile, equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology. This new capability allows the weapon system to deliver multiple nuclear warheads against various targets spread across hundreds of kilometers, significantly enhancing the country’s strategic deterrence capability.
The Prime Minister unveiled the code name for this historic test as Mission Divyastra (divine weapon), marking India’s entry into an exclusive league of nations possessing MIRV missile systems, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.
“Proud of our DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology,” the PM wrote on X.
The defense ministry released a statement acknowledging the complexity of the mission, stating that various telemetry and radar stations tracked and monitored multiple re-entry vehicles. The successful test was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
Last week, the country indicated its intention to conduct a long-range missile test by issuing a notice for a no-fly zone over the Bay of Bengal and a stretch of the eastern Indian Ocean region.
The Agni-5 missile, powered by a three-stage solid-fueled engine, boasts a range of more than 5,000 km. MIRVs possess the capability to inflict more damage than traditional single-warhead missiles. India’s arsenal of Agni missiles also includes the 700-km range Agni-1, the 2,000-km Agni-2, the 3,000-km Agni-3, and the 4,000-km range Agni-4.
Equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, the Agni-5 MIRV system ensured that the reentry vehicles reached their target points with precise accuracy, according to officials familiar with the matter.
“We are often critical of DRDO, but one area where they have shown great progress is in missile technology. We are also seeing China modernizing and increasing nuclear warheads in its arsenal. For continued strategic deterrence, we must ensure we do not fall behind,” said strategic affairs expert Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).
The project was spearheaded by a woman scientist from DRDO, with the involvement of other women scientists, underscoring the country’s growing emphasis on Nari Shakti (woman power). DRDO’s women scientists have played crucial roles in several critical missile tests.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also commended India’s new capability on X, congratulating the DRDO scientists and the entire team for the exceptional success.
There was no official confirmation on the number of warheads the MIRV version of Agni-5 can carry, although military scientists tracking the project estimate it to be between four to five.
India’s nuclear doctrine, established in 2003, adheres to a ‘no first use’ posture, with weapons intended solely for retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or forces.
Retaliatory strikes require authorization from the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.
India’s nuclear triad encompasses the ability to carry out nuclear strikes via fighter planes, land-launched missiles, and sea platforms. The successful nuclear trial in 2018 by the indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant, marked a significant milestone in this regard.
The recent test coincided with the presence of two Chinese research and survey vessels in the waters around India, indicating heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.
The operations of these vessels underscore China’s increasing maritime research activities in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns among regional powers like India and the US.
India and the US, along with other members of the Quad alliance, have worked to address such concerns, notably leading to Sri Lanka imposing a moratorium on visits by foreign vessels earlier this year.
The MIRV capability of the Agni-5 missile system represents a significant advancement in India’s strategic deterrence capabilities, consolidating its position as a major player in the region’s security dynamics.
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