PM Modi Commends Success of Mission Divyastra: Agni-5 MIRV Missile’s Maiden Test Flight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Announces “Mission Divyastra”: Agni-5 MIRV Missile’s Groundbreaking Test Flight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled “Mission Divyastra,” a significant development in India’s defense capabilities. This indigenous weapons system, including the Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, marks a pivotal moment in India’s geopolitical and strategic landscape, especially in Southeast Asia. Developed over a decade by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 MIRV missile conducted its maiden flight today.
MIRV technology, possessed by only a handful of nations, enables a single missile to deploy multiple warheads, striking targets simultaneously across different locations. With this successful test, India joins an elite group that includes the US, UK, Russia, France, and China.
Expressing pride in DRDO scientists, PM Modi praised the achievement on social media. President of India, Ms. Droupadi Murmu, hailed the test as a crucial milestone in India’s journey towards greater geo-strategic capabilities and self-reliance.
Dr. V K Saraswat, former Director General of DRDO and current Member of Science and Technology at NITI Aayog, emphasized the significance of Agni-5 MIRV as a “force multiplier” in executing a retaliatory strike, enhancing India’s deterrence capabilities under its no-first-use policy.
Developing a ballistic missile with MIRV capability poses significant technical challenges. The MIRV payload allows a single missile to deliver multiple warheads to separate targets, enhancing India’s ability to target adversaries across a radius of over 5,000 km.
Equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, the Agni-5 MIRV ensures precise targeting of re-entry vehicles to their designated points. The test likely covered a range of 3,550 km, indicated by a no-fly NOTAM issued in the region.
Each warhead within the Agni-5 MIRV operates independently, guided by its own control system, providing flexibility in targeting and striking multiple objectives.
With “Mission Divyastra,” India has advanced its second-strike capability to a new level, significantly enhancing its deterrence posture in the region.
