AGNI-V 

Recently, India announced the successful testing of a new Agni-V missile, which boasts the capability of carrying multiple warheads and striking multiple targets. The noteworthy aspect of this new missile is its integration with MIRV technology.

MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology is characterized by the ability to load multiple warheads onto a single missile delivery system and program them to hit distinct targets. This advancement significantly enhances the destructive potential of the missile.

The incorporation of MIRV capability represents a substantial upgrade for India's missile systems, thereby expanding its nuclear options and bolstering its strategic capabilities.

2. About MIRV Technology

MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology represents a significant advancement in missile capabilities, allowing missiles to carry multiple warheads, each capable of hitting separate targets. This technology has the potential to greatly increase the destructive power of missiles and can be strategically impactful in various scenarios.

• Technology Overview: Traditional missiles carry a single warhead and hit a single target. In contrast, MIRV-equipped missiles can carry multiple warheads, which can be programmed to strike different locations or targets independently. This flexibility enables simultaneous strikes at multiple locations or a sequential attack on the same target, ensuring a more comprehensive and devastating impact.
• Historical Context: MIRV technology is not new and was developed in the 1960s, initially deployed by major nuclear powers such as the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Over time, other countries like France, the United Kingdom, China, and more recently Pakistan, have also developed and tested MIRV-equipped missiles.
• Capabilities and Complexity: The number of warheads a missile can carry depends on various factors like design, weight, size, range, and technological parameters. For instance, India's recent test showcased a missile capable of carrying three to four warheads, while some systems can carry as many as 15 warheads or more. However, the development and deployment of MIRV technology require the miniaturization of warheads, independent guidance, navigation controls, and sequential release mechanisms, making it a complex and sophisticated technological endeavour.
• Strategic Implications and Concerns: While MIRV technology offers enhanced military capabilities, it has also raised concerns among arms control advocates. There are concerns that MIRV-equipped missiles could incentivize preemptive strikes and escalate tensions, thus increasing the risks associated with nuclear weapons. Despite these concerns, MIRV-equipped missiles have not been used in any conflict situation to date.

3. Advantages of MIRV Technology

MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology offers several strategic advantages that make it a sought-after military capability worldwide. These advantages include

• Multiple Damage Infliction: The primary advantage of MIRV technology is its ability to cause multiple damages with a single strike. By carrying multiple warheads, each capable of hitting different targets independently, MIRV-equipped missiles significantly increase the destructive potential of a single missile launch.
• Penetration of Missile Defence Systems: MIRV-equipped missiles pose a challenge to missile defence systems. Traditional missile defence systems are designed to detect, track, and intercept incoming missiles. However, MIRV technology complicates this task by deploying multiple warheads with independent trajectories. This makes tracking and interception extremely difficult for defence systems, increasing the likelihood of warheads penetrating the shield and causing damage.
• Decoy Warheads and Confusion: Another advantage of MIRV technology is the ability to include decoy warheads along with actual warheads. Decoy warheads can confuse defence systems, making it harder to differentiate between real and decoy targets. This further enhances the effectiveness of MIRV-equipped missiles in bypassing missile defence systems.
• Strategic Deterrence: For countries like India, which adhere to a no-first-use policy for nuclear weapons, MIRV technology provides a crucial capability for response strikes. The ability to deliver multiple warheads with precision and cause significant damage in a response strike serves as a potent deterrence against potential aggressors. This capability can deter adversaries from initiating conflict due to the risk of facing a disproportionate and devastating response.

4. Agni Missile System Upgrade

The recent integration of MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology marks a significant upgrade for India's Agni family of ballistic missiles, developed indigenously by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). The Agni missiles serve as crucial land-based delivery systems for India's nuclear arsenal.

• Development and Deployment: The Agni missile series, developed in the 1990s, includes short, medium, and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles. The first-generation Agni missiles were deployed in the armed forces in the mid-2000s. Ranging from Agni-I to Agni-IV, these missiles have varying ranges between 700 to 3,500 km and can carry single payloads weighing between 12 and 40 kilotons. The latest addition, Agni-V, equipped with MIRV technology, has a range exceeding 5,000 km and can potentially reach intercontinental distances of 5,500 km and above.
• Testing and Capabilities: Agni-V has undergone multiple tests since 2012, showcasing new features and capabilities. Its recent flight test in December 2022 highlighted its night-time capabilities and other advancements. Additionally, DRDO has been developing Agni-P missiles, modernized versions of the short-range Agni-1 and Agni-2, with expectations of integrating MIRV technology.
• Strategic Significance: The acquisition of MIRV technology by India was crucial, especially after China developed similar capabilities. With Pakistan also claiming tests with MIRV-equipped missiles, integrating MIRV into Agni missiles became imperative for India's strategic deterrence and defence capabilities. The upcoming Agni-VI missile, currently under development, is also expected to feature MIRV capabilities.
• National Announcement and Test Details: Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally announced this technological milestone, emphasizing its significance for India's defence posture. The recent test, conducted by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, validated the successful integration of MIRV technology. The mission achieved its designed parameters, as confirmed by DRDO through various telemetry and radar stations.