India successfully tests advanced Agni missile with MIRV technology:Capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and striking several targets simultaneously

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully test-fired the Agni missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Test Centre in Odisha. DRDO confirmed the successful trial on Saturday, stating that the missile accurately struck multiple targets located at different places in the Indian Ocean region during the test. The missile is equipped with MIRV capability, which allows it to carry multiple nuclear warheads and engage several targets simultaneously. According to reports, the missile is India’s second Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a strike range of around 5,000 to 7,000 kilometres. Its high speed makes interception by enemy radar and missile defence systems extremely difficult. Agni-5 among India’s most advanced missiles The Agni series currently includes Agni-1, Agni-2, Agni-3, Agni-4 and Agni-5 missiles. Agni-5 was India’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile developed by DRDO and is among the country’s longest-range strategic weapons. ICBMs are missiles capable of striking targets across continents. Agni-5 can carry payloads of up to 1.5 tonnes, including nuclear warheads, and travels at speeds of nearly Mach 24 — around 24 times the speed of sound. The missile also uses canister-launch technology, enabling easier transportation, storage and rapid deployment from different locations across the country. MIRV technology enables multiple strikes MIRV, or Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle technology, allows a single missile to carry several warheads that can strike multiple targets located hundreds of kilometres apart. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that carry only one warhead, MIRV-equipped missiles can deploy multiple warheads either against different targets or simultaneously at a single target. India among few nations with ICBM capability India is among a select group of countries possessing Intercontinental Ballistic Missile technology. Other nations with ICBM capability include the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. MIRV technology was first developed by the United States in the 1970s and was later adopted by other major military powers, including the former Soviet Union.