India has successfully test-fired an advanced Agni missile equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle) capability, enabling it to strike multiple targets simultaneously, a feat that places the country among an elite group of global powers.
According to the Defense Ministry, the trial was conducted on May 8 from the island of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The missile was tested with multiple payloads directed at different targets spread across a wide geographical area in the Indian Ocean region, successfully achieving all mission objectives.
Read also | India is testing the Agni-5 missile capable of delivering multiple nuclear strikes
Here are 5 things to know about the advanced Agni missile:
1. The Defense Ministry said that the advanced Agni-5 missile is equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology. This capability allows a single missile to deploy multiple nuclear warheads against targets spread across hundreds of kilometers. The Agni-5 missile has a range of up to 5,000 km. The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have a range of 700 km to 3,500 km and have already been deployed.
2. MIRV technology enables a single missile to launch multiple warheads, each directed at a separate target. While there is no official confirmation, experts estimate that the Agni-5 MIRV variant could carry between four and five warheads.
3. The latest test, conducted on Friday over the Indian Ocean region, saw multiple payloads successfully hit targets across a wide area, achieving all mission objectives.
4. The system features original avionics and high-precision sensors. It is worth noting that a female scientist from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) led the 2024 test, along with other female scientists.
5. India first tested the MIRV-equipped Agni-5 in March 2024 under the ‘Mission Divyastra’, announced by Narendra Modi, placing the country among a select group with MIRV capabilities, including the US, UK, France, Russia and China.
Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Army and industry partners for the successful flight test of the missile. The experiment, developed by DRDO with support from industry, was witnessed by senior scientists and army personnel, the ministry said.
The aim of the naval missile test was to engage and neutralize the hostile ballistic missile threat, placing India among a select group of countries with this advanced defense capability.
(With inputs from PTI and HT’s Rahul Singh)
