About Agni Missiles
The Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO developed long range missile called Agni. Since 1990 the armed fotrces of India has used Agni missiles.The most recent and latest variant of Agni missile has been made with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle technology or the MIRV technology.
Basic Understanding of the MIRV
Very few countries have this technology with them. Some of them are – USA, United Kingdom, China, Russia and France. It is believed that Israel is also working on building missiles with MIRV technolgy or maybe it has already built it. These missiles are capable to be launched from both land or from the submarine in case , it has to be lauched from sea.
The unique feature about the MIRV or Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle technology is that with a single missile it can target many targets, even if they are hundreds kilometers afar. Agni is a long range missil, it has a range of approx 5000 kilometers or even more than 5000 kilometers. The puropse of this missile is to preventing the threat from China.
In 2022, Agni-5 took off from the coast off Odisha. It was a successful flight test and prior to 2022 as well, there have been many tests conducted successfully. The first test of Agni V was successfully conducted in 2012. V K Saraswat, the Director General of DRDO, then said that we are working on developing MIRV technology in India
These misssiles can be easily launched from any platform like road or rail platforms making it easier and efficeint for launching at the time of need. In 2021 June, .a canisterised missile, Agni P was successfully tested with a range ability of 1000 and 2000 kilometers.
MIRV Technology is Fatal
MIRVs have the ability to carry multiple warheads at a time. It can be released from the missile at varying speeds and in different directions. The above mentioned has been said by the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation. In addition to this Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation, also said that the reason behind very few countries being able to develop MIRV technology is that is difficult to develop. It needs proper guidance along with availability of both large missiles and small warheads . Along with these, it requires proper mechanism in place to release the warheads in flights , in a sequential manner.
How MIRV will help India to Prevent Threats from China?
These missiles will prove to be beneficial at tiemes of threats from China. India has a limited number of misilles as compared to China who is far ahead and advanced than India in its missile forces. India issued a Notice To Air Mission (NOTAM) over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean Region.It is compulsary to issue NOTAM before any rocket or missile test so that the neighboring nations are alerted.
While Inida conducted its test on March 7,2024, in the mean while Chinese research vessels are sent to Indian shores. China says that these vessels are only for the purpose of Research, however it is likely that these vessels are sent to gather sensitive information and data about the rival nations. In November 2022, a Chinese vessel called ‘Yuan Wang 06’ was sent and due to this India cancelled its NOTAM. This time India issued NOTAM in order to carry out the test from Abdul Kalam Island off, Odisha of Agni-5, the Chinese vessel ‘Yunhg Wang 06’ was sent to the IOR.
However Prime Minister, Narendra Modi praised and congratulated DRDO for the sucess of Mission Divyastra.
It is an extremely proud moment for India , to be able to make its place by successfully developing MIRV technology. India’s name is added to the list of few countries who have MIRV technology.
