Multiple re-entry vehicle technology successfully tested on Agni-5 missile
Context:
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful test-firing of Agni-5 ballistic missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under Mission Divyastra.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Security)
About Agni-5:
- It is a Land-based Nuclear-capable ICBM developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
- An Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi), primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery.
- Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons can also be delivered with varying effectiveness.
- The missile has a range of >7,000 Km.
- It is a Three-stage, Road-mobile, Canisterised, Solid-fueled Ballistic Missile.
- Development:
- Agni V is primarily for enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence against China.
- The missile was designed to be easy to transport by road, through the utilization of a canister-launch missile system, which is distinct from those of the earlier Agni missiles
Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)
- A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is an exoatmospheric ballistic missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit a different target.
- Only the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, India and Pakistan are currently confirmed to have deployed MIRV missile systems.
- Israel is suspected to possess or be in the process of developing MIRVs.
- Applicability: The introduction of MIRV led to a major change in the strategic balance. Previously, with one warhead per missile, it was conceivable that one could build a defense that used missiles to attack individual warheads. Any increase in missile fleet by the enemy could be countered by a similar increase in interceptors.
- With MIRV, a single new enemy missile meant that multiple interceptors would have to be built, meaning that it was much less expensive to increase the attack than the defense.
