Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle Technology | 12 Mar 2024

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)

It is a surface-to-surface missile.
It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
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)

Mains:

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