The long range ballistic missile boasts to be the most advanced missile in the Agni series, because of its navigation and guidance, warhead and engine. The missile has been made in a manner that after reaching the peak of its trajectory it will head down to the earth’s surface, towards the target, with increased speed due to the gravitational pull.
Further, as per sources, this 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. The capability is an enunciator of India’s growing technological prowess, they said.
The announcement, made by the Prime Minister, has drawn attention towards MIRV, a technology which is only with a few select countries and now, India has joined the elite club.
What is MIRV?
Originally developed in the early 1960s, the MIRVs, permit a missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets, which cause more damage area than a lone warhead. Unlike a traditional ballistic missile, the MIRV can carry multiple warheads, which can further be launched at different speeds and different directions, as per a paper by The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. What are the benefits of MIRV? Deployment of MIRV can enhance first-strike proficiency for strategic forces and also provide greater target damage for a given thermonuclear weapon payload.
Moreover, as it can release multiple warheads, it serves the purpose of a cluster munition, as it reduces the number of missiles and launch facilities required.
With the MIRV, the effectiveness of an anti-ballistic missile system that relies on intercepting individual warheads is also reduced.
Who has MIRV?
While India is now a part of the elite club, the countries which boast to possess MIRV include:
USA, UK and France- have MIRV technology on their Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).
China- has MIRVed on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Russia- has both MIRVed ICBMs and SLBMs.
Pakistan is also believed to be experimenting with MIRV technology.
