Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle Technology

• 12 Mar 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

India has recently made a significant advancement in missile technology, joining the select group of nations possessing Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities.

• This milestone was achieved through the successful flight test named Mission Divyastra, conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It marked the first time the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile integrated MIRV technology.

What are the Key Facts About MIRV Technology?

• Inception:
  • MIRV technology originated in the United States, with the deployment of a MIRVed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 1970.
  • MIRV allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads (3-4), each capable of targeting different locations independently.
  • MIRV technology enhances the missile’s effectiveness by increasing the number of potential targets it can engage.
    • MIRVs can be launched from both land-based platforms and sea-based platforms, such as submarines, expanding their operational flexibility and range.
• Global Adoption and Proliferation:
  • Nations possessing MIRV technology include major nuclear powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and India, while Pakistan tested the technology (Ababeel Missile) in 2017.
  • The test flight of Agni-5 marked the first time that the MIRV technology was tested in India, which aims to deploy multiple warheads at different locations in a single launch.
    • The Agni-5 weapon system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, which ensured that the re-entry vehicles reached the target points within the desired accuracy.
• Strategic Significance:
  • MIRVs were initially designed to enhance offensive capabilities rather than to defeat ballistic missile defences.
  • Their ability to deploy multiple warheads independently makes them significantly more challenging to defend against compared to traditional missiles.
• Challenges:
  • Deploying MIRV technology presents complex challenges, including the miniaturisation of warheads, the development of advanced guidance systems, and ensuring the reliability of individual re-entry vehicles.
    • Addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness and reliability of MIRV systems in strategic operations.

Agni-5 Missile

• Agni is an Inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed indigenously by the DRDO.
• It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has a target range of more than 5,000 km. It uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.
  • Agni-5 has been successfully tested several times since 2012. In December 2022, DRDO also tested the night-time capabilities of Agni-5.
• Missiles in Agni Family:
  • Agni I: Short-range ballistic missile (Range more than 700 km).
  • Agni II: Medium-range ballistic missile (Range more than 2000 to 3500 km).
  • Agni III: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3000 km).
  • Agni IV: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3500 km).
  • Agni-P (Agni Prime): A nuclear-capable, two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile (Range 1,000 to 2,000 km).
• The next upgrade of the Agni missile, Agni-6, is expected to be a full-fledged intercontinental ballistic missile with a range well over 7,000 km.

Read more: Agni-5 Ballistic Missile

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Questions (PYQs)

Prelims:

Q1. What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)

(a) An Israeli radar system
(b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
(c) An American anti-missile system
(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

Ans: (c)

Q2. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)

1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

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Mains:

Q. How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (2021)