Mission Divyastra

Mission Divyastra: Agni V with MIRV Technology Explained

What is Mission Divyastra?

Mission Divyastra is the first flight test of an indigenously developed Agni-5 missile equipped with MIRV technology by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). MIRV stands for Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle. This means a single Agni-5 missile can carry multiple warheads and deliver them to separate targets.

This achievement is significant for a couple of reasons:

Increased Missile Capability: The MIRV technology enhances India’s strategic missile capabilities. With a single launch, they can now attack multiple targets.
Indigenously Developed: The Agni-5 missile and the MIRV technology were developed entirely within India. This signifies a big leap in their domestic defense research and development.

What is MIRV?

MIRV stands for Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle. It’s a type of missile technology that allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each of which can be directed to a different target. This technology significantly increases the effectiveness and destructive capability of ballistic missiles. Let’s break it down to understand it better:

Basics of MIRV Technology

  1. Multiple Warheads: Unlike older missile designs that carried a single nuclear warhead, a MIRV-equipped missile can carry several warheads, often up to a dozen or more. Each of these warheads can be assigned a different target.
  2. Independently Targetable: The key feature of MIRV technology is that each warhead can be directed to a different target independently of the others. This is achieved through sophisticated guidance and delivery systems.
  3. Re-entry Vehicle: After the missile is launched and reaches a certain point in its trajectory, the warheads are released. Each warhead is housed in its own re-entry vehicle, which protects it as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere. The re-entry vehicle is designed to withstand the intense heat and friction generated during re-entry.

How MIRV Works

  1. Launch: A missile equipped with MIRV technology is launched from a ground-based silo, submarine, or mobile platform.
  2. Mid-course Phase: After launch, the missile follows a ballistic trajectory into space. At the apex of its flight, outside the Earth’s atmosphere, the missile’s payload bus (a special stage designed to deploy the warheads) activates.
  3. Deployment: The payload bus maneuvers in space, pointing itself towards each intended target in turn. It then releases the individual warheads, along with decoys if present, to confuse enemy defenses.
  4. Re-entry and Impact: Each warhead, encased in its re-entry vehicle, re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and descends towards its target. The warheads are designed to survive the re-entry and detonate either above or directly on their targets.

Agni V Explained

Agni-V is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the successor to the Agni-III missile. It represents a significant leap in India’s strategic capabilities, primarily aimed at enhancing its nuclear deterrence posture, particularly with respect to China. Here’s a detailed overview of its features and capabilities:

Range: Agni-V has a confirmed range of over 5,000 kilometers, some reports suggesting 7,000 kilometers. This extended range places significant parts of Asia and Europe within its reach, allowing India to target all of China from bases located in central and southern India.

Propulsion and Stages: It is a three-stage missile that uses solid fuel for propulsion. The use of composite motor casing in the second and third stages helps reduce the missile’s weight, enhancing its range and payload capacity.

Mobility and Deployment: Agni-V is designed for road mobility, using a canister-launch system. This feature significantly increases its operational flexibility and reduces reaction times for launch, as it can be fired from a pre-surveyed launch location without the need for a pre-built launch site.

Guidance and Control: The missile employs an advanced guidance system, including a ring laser gyroscope-based inertial navigation system (RLG-INS) and a micro inertial navigation system (MINGS) as a backup. These systems are capable of interacting with both Indian and non-Indian satellite navigation systems, ensuring high accuracy.

MIRV Capability: Agni-V is expected to feature Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of striking different targets.

Anti-Satellite Version: There is a technical possibility for an anti-satellite (ASAT) version of Agni-V, which would require reaching altitudes of about 800 km to target satellites.

Agni-V’s Strategic Significance

Agni-V’s development and deployment mark a significant milestone in India’s strategic capabilities, providing it with the ability to conduct credible deterrence across much of Asia and into Europe. Its advanced features, such as MIRV capability and high mobility, make it a critical component of India’s nuclear triad, ensuring a robust second-strike capability.

Source: Agni-V – Wikipedia

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