Context: Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted ‘Mission Divyastra’ — the first test flight of India’s indigenously developed Agni-5 missile.

• The flight test named Mission Divyastra was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. 

• Various Telemetry and radar stations tracked and monitored multiple re-entry vehicles. The Mission accomplished the designed parameters.

About Mission Divyastra

• Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.”

Strategic Significance of the Mission Divyastra

• Versatile Strike Capabilities: MIRV-equipped missiles enable simultaneous strikes on multiple targets, overwhelming enemy defenses and maximizing damage potential.

• Deterrence and Defense Penetration: These missiles pose a significant challenge to missile defense systems, as multiple warheads with independent trajectories can thwart interception efforts.

• Strategic Balance and Deterrence: For nations like India with a no-first-use policy, MIRV technology enhances the credibility of response strikes, serving as a potent deterrent against aggression.

What are Agni missiles?

• About: Agni missiles are long-range ballistic missiles designed for surface-to-surface attacks and capable of carrying nuclear payloads.

• First Variant:The first missile in the series, Agni-I, was developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.

Designated as a special Program

• After its success, the Agni missile program became independent from the IGMDP due to its strategic significance.

• It was designated as a special program in India’s defense budget and received sufficient funds for further development.

About Agni-5 Missiles

• Indigenous Development: Agni missiles, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), have been integral to India’s defense arsenal since the early 1990s.

• MIRV Technology: The latest variant of Agni incorporates Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, a sophisticated capability possessed by only a handful of countries globally.

Developments in MIRV Technology

• Targeting Versatility: MIRV technology enables a single missile to target multiple locations, potentially hundreds of kilometers apart, significantly enhancing its operational effectiveness.

• Range and Strategic Focus: Agni, equipped with nuclear warheads, boasts a range exceeding 5,000 km, primarily aimed at countering threats from China.

• Limited MIRV-Equipped Nations: Currently, major nations possessing MIRV-equipped missiles include the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, with emerging capabilities in Pakistan and Israel.

• Complex Technology: Developing MIRV technology requires miniaturization of warheads, independent guidance systems, and sequential release mechanisms, making it a challenging endeavor.

Variants of Agni missiles

• Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.

• Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.

• Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km

• Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.

• Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.

• Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an ICBM with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.