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India on Friday successfully carried out the flight-trial of an advanced Agni ballistic missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system, the Defence Ministry said, marking a major milestone in the country’s strategic deterrence capability.
The missile was launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on May 8 and was tested with multiple payloads aimed at different targets spread across a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry.
“The telemetry and tracking was carried out by multiple ground and ship-based stations. These systems tracked the entire missile trajectory from lift-off till the impact of all payloads. Flight data confirmed that all mission objectives were met during the trial,” the statement said.
With the successful test, India demonstrated the capability to strike multiple strategic targets using a single missile system – a key feature of MIRV technology that significantly enhances the effectiveness of long-range ballistic missiles.
The missile has been developed by laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with support from domestic industry partners.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Army and industry partners on the successful test, saying the capability would strengthen India’s defence preparedness amid evolving security challenges.
“This will add an incredible capability to the country’s defence preparedness against the growing threat perceptions,” Singh said.
While the Defence Ministry did not specify the exact range of the missile, defence officials said the test marked India’s first publicly acknowledged flight-trial of a nuclear-capable intercontinental-class ballistic missile with MIRV capability. Intercontinental ballistic missiles are generally classified as missiles with ranges exceeding 5,500 km.
Ahead of the launch, India had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a large stretch over the Bay of Bengal between May 6 and May 9, indicating preparations for a long-range missile trial. The designated danger zone extended roughly 3,560 km into the Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Indian Ocean region.
The launch came a day after India conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation glide weapon system off the Odisha coast, underlining the continued pace of indigenous strategic weapons development.
Long-range missile trials from India’s eastern seaboard form a critical component of the country’s strategic deterrence architecture overseen by the Nuclear Command Authority.
Team BharatShakti
