MISSION DIVYASTRA AND AGNI-VI

The successor to Agni-V Mark-2 Agni-VI) is expected to have a range between 9,000 km and 12,000 km with a 3-tonne nuclear payload, and a strike range between 14,000 km and 16,000 km with a lighter 1.5-tonne package, writes AMARTYA SINHA.

- AMARTYA SINHA

India’s Agni-V ICBM (Intercontinental-range Ballistic missile) has undergone ten successful trials since its maiden flight in April 2012. On March 11,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the successful completion of Mission Divyastra, the country's maiden flight test of the Agni-V ICBM using Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which was developed in-house. MIRV will make sure that a single missile is capable of deploying several warheads in various places. During the earlier test on December 15, 2022, the replacement of maraging steel (very high tensile steel) with lightweight composite materials made the Agni-V missile 20 per cent lighter than its previous avatars. The launch had also proved a striking capability beyond 7000 km. However, an effective Indian 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.

Meanwhile, as DRDO released images of the launch, many defence experts have concluded that the Agni-V ICBM tested on March 11 was a two-stage solid-fuelled rocket with an ogive-shaped nose cone. The new shape of the payload fairing proves that India has finally mastered the art of installing MIRV warheads in a missile. However, the diameter of the missile is still limited to 2 metres. Some are speculating that the new ICBM tested on March 11 can be called an Agni-V Mark-2, and it may be the stepping stone towards a 10,000 km-plus ranged AgniVI ICBM in future. MIRV capability also proves that the country has achieved tremendous expertise in the domain of miniaturisation of nuclear warheads.