India successfully conducted first Flight Test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology
Accordingly prime minister Narendra Modi took to X on monday to praise the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) scientists for the remarkable achievement that takes india among the selected few nations that have the capability. The Agni-5 has a range of 5000 km and is developed while keeping in mind the long-term security needs of the country. The missile can bring almost the entire Asia including the northernmost part of china and several regions in europe under its striking range. Infact, the Agni-5 is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that goes into space before re-entering the atmosphere.
This test flight is unique for having the Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which ensures that the warhead can split into multiple re-entry vehicles to deliver a precise and targeted attack. The MIRV system is equipped with indigenous Avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, which ensure that the re-entry vehicles reach the target points within the desired accuracy. The capability is an enunciator of India’s growing technological prowess and allows nations to engage in multiple targets and have the first-mover advantage during times of war.
The MIRV technology was originally developed in the 1960s and was used by the US, UK, Russia, france and china at that time. It was US who developed the technology for the first time, followed by Soviet Union and it requires a combination of large missiles, small warheads, accurate guidance, and a complex mechanism for releasing warheads sequentially during flight, the report stated.