About
- DRDO launched Mission Divyastra.
- This is the first flight test of an indigenously developed 5,000-km range Agni-5 nuclear missile, equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
- Mission Divyastra aims to deliver multiple warheads at different locations or the same location in a single launch. The warheads could include decoys to deceive the enemy’s ballistic missile program.
MIRV Technology
Inception
- MIRV technology originated in the United States, with the deployment of a MIRVed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 1970.
- MIRV allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads (3-4), each capable of targeting different locations independently.
- MIRV technology enhances the missile’s effectiveness by increasing the number of potential targets it can engage.
- MIRVs can be launched from both land-based platforms and sea-based platforms, such as submarines, expanding their operational flexibility and range.
Global Adoption and Proliferation
- Nations possessing MIRV technology include major nuclear powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and India, while Pakistan tested the technology (Ababeel Missile) in 2017.
- The test flight of Agni-5 marked the first time that the MIRV technology was tested in India, which aims to deploy multiple warheads at different locations in a single launch.
- The Agni-5 weapon system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, which ensured that the re-entry vehicles reached the target points within the desired accuracy.
Strategic Significance
- MIRVs were initially designed to enhance offensive capabilities rather than to defeat ballistic missile defences.
- Their ability to deploy multiple warheads independently makes them significantly more challenging to defend against compared to traditional missiles.
Challenges
- Deploying MIRV technology presents complex challenges, including the miniaturisation of warheads, the development of advanced guidance systems, and ensuring the reliability of individual re-entry vehicles.
- Addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness and reliability of MIRV systems in strategic operations.
Agni-5 Missile
- Agni is an Inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed indigenously by the DRDO.
- It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has a target range of more than 5,000 km. It uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.
- Agni-5 has been successfully tested several times since 2012. In December 2022, DRDO also tested the night-time capabilities of Agni-5.
- Missiles in Agni Family:
- Agni I: Short-range ballistic missile (Range more than 700 km).
- Agni II: Medium-range ballistic missile (Range more than 2000 to 3500 km).
- Agni III: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3000 km).
- Agni IV: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3500 km).
- Agni-P (Agni Prime): A nuclear-capable, two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile (Range 1,000 to 2,000 km).
- The next upgrade of the Agni missile, Agni-6, is expected to be a full-fledged intercontinental ballistic missile with a range well over 7,000 km.
