The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted India’s first successful flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-V missile.

Science and Technology

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted India’s first successful flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-V missile. The test involved the missile carrying between four to six dummy warheads. The flight test, named Mission Divyastra, was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. Launching a MIRV-tipped missile – say an Agni-IV or Agni-V – offers several tactical and strategic advantages. The Agni-V project is aimed at boosting India's nuclear deterrence. Agni-V can bring almost the entire Asia under its strike range. The test featured Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle.


      The technology that goes into putting multiple warheads on a single rocket or missile is known as “multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle” (MIRV) technology.

      It involves launching a single missile carrying 4-6 warheads, each of which can be programmed to strike a separate target, several hundred kilometres apart.

      MIRVs have been developed by the US, UK, Russia, France and China.

 

     


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