TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: India recently achieved a significant milestone in its strategic capabilities with the successful test launch of the Agni-5 missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
EXPLANATION:
- This accomplishment, conducted under Mission Divyastra, propels India into an elite group of nations possessing MIRV capabilities.
- The Agni-5 missile, developed indigenously, marks a pivotal moment in India’s defense capabilities.
- The inclusion of MIRV technology enhances the country’s strategic deterrence by allowing a single missile to deploy multiple nuclear warheads independently, a capability possessed by major global players like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.
Mission Divyastra
- The test launch was conducted under the banner of Mission Divyastra, aptly named the “divine weapon.”
- This mission underscores the technological prowess and scientific achievement of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Mission Divyastra refers to the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
- This achievement marks a significant step forward in India’s strategic punitive capability, as a single missile can now deploy multiple warheads at different locations or at the same location with a time gap.
- The Agni-5 missile, which can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets over 5,000 km away, is aimed at bolstering deterrence against countries like China.
- The MIRV technology is complex, requiring a delicate combination of large missiles, small warheads, accurate guidance, and a complex mechanism for releasing warheads sequentially during flight.
- India’s successful development of MIRV technology positions the country among a select group of nations with this capability.
Understanding MIRV Technology
- Origin and Evolution
- MIRV technology originated in the early 1960s, primarily to enable a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads.
- The United States pioneered MIRVs, deploying them on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) in 1970 and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) in 1971.
- Purpose and Advantages
- MIRVs offer a distinct advantage over traditional missiles by allowing independent targeting of multiple locations within a single launch.
- This capability significantly enhances the difficulty of defending against MIRV-equipped missiles, making them a formidable component of a nation’s strategic arsenal.
Agni-5 Features and Capabilities
- Indigenous Avionics Systems
- The Agni-5 missile system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems, showcasing India’s self-reliance in developing advanced technologies crucial for national security.
- High-Accuracy Sensor Packages
- The inclusion of high-accuracy sensor packages ensures that the re-entry vehicles reach their designated target points with precision.
- This accuracy is vital for the effective deployment of multiple warheads in strategic locations.
Global Landscape of MIRV Technology
- Nations Possessing MIRV Capabilities
- The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and now India is among the nations possessing MIRV technology.
- This underscores the strategic importance of MIRVs in the global security landscape.
- Pakistan’s Pursuit of MIRV Capabilities
- Pakistan, while not mentioned in the recent test, has also been on the path to developing MIRV capabilities.
- In January 2017, Pakistan reportedly tested a MIRVed missile named Ababeel, signaling its aspirations to enhance its nuclear capabilities.
Challenges and Complexities
- Miniaturization of Warheads
- Deploying MIRV technology poses challenges, including the miniaturization of warheads.
- The ability to fit multiple warheads on a single missile while maintaining effectiveness is a technical challenge that nations must overcome.
- Advanced Guidance Systems
- The development of advanced guidance systems is crucial for ensuring the reliable and precise targeting of multiple locations independently.
- This aspect adds complexity to the deployment of MIRV technology.
- Reliability of Re-entry Vehicles
- Ensuring the reliability of individual re-entry vehicles is a critical aspect of MIRV technology.
- Each warhead must function as intended to maximize the strategic impact of the missile.
- Agni-5 Ballistic Missile:
- Agni-5 is an ingeniously built advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
- It is a fire-and-forget missile, which cannot be stopped without an interceptor missile.
- The missile has the capability of hitting targets beyond the range of 5000 km and is crucial for India’s self-defense systems.
Agni Missiles:
- The Agni missile class is the backbone of India’s nuclear launch capability, as are Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and fighter aircraft.
- Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Other Ranges of Agni Missiles:
- Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
- Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
- Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
- Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
- Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.