BOOSTING INDIA'S NUCLEAR DETERRENCE

Unlike the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, this time the Pakistanis had nothing to hide, including their widespread global embarrassment.

- JYOTI SINGH

India's Agni-VICBM (Intercontinental-range Ballistic missile) has undergone ten successful trials since its maiden flight in April 2012. On December 15, 2022, India successfully carried out the night trial of Agni-V missile from the Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. The test was to validate new technologies and equipment on the weapon system.

Replacing merging steel with lightweight composite materials made the Agni-V missile 20 per cent lighter than its previous avatars. The launch also proved a striking capability beyond 7000 km. Moreover, Agni-V underwent the first-ever successful test with MIRV (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle) capability under Mission Divyastra on March 11, 2024.

However, an effective Indian minimum credible nuclear deterrence against China remains unfulfilled due to Agni-V's limited payload carrying capacity of 1.5 tonnes. India's integrated guided missile development programme needs to go the extra mile in many aspects.

The arrest of a DRDO scientist (Pradeep Kurulkar) who was honey-trapped by a female Pakistani spy has also resulted in some stunning revelations about the Agni-VI programme. As per media reports, he has confirmed to the ISI agent through some WhatsApp chats that the launcher of the missile has already been designed and that the new ICBM may be tested soon.

Moreover, a senior executive working with electropneumatics & Hydraulics (I) Pvt. Ltd. has confirmed that the entire launch system of Agni-VI is now fully ready. The company is also working on the launcher for ‘DRDO Veda’ (Vehicle for Defence Application)- a satellite launch vehicle (SLV) variant of Agni-VI which will have similar specifications as the ICBM.