India successfully executed the first flight test of its nationally built Agni V missile, featuring Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
Three years ago, Pakistan tried to create multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology utilizing a 2.750 km Shaheen III missile, with each warhead striking the ground at two kilometers. Still, according to DRDO high brass, the effort failed.
When Agni V was tested?
On Monday evening, India tested an Agni-V missile with three MIRVs across over 3000 kilometers despite the missile’s 5000-kilometer range. The missile’s name is essential to MIRV because the warhead splits in space, and the rocket re-enters the atmosphere as a fireball (Agni) because of friction at a speed of around six kilometers per second. Each warhead falls at a separate speed and collides with the ground at around 200 km. The key to MIRV is re-entry, which is an essential phase because the warhead may disintegrate without carbon composites.
The successful test of Agni-V indicates that India’s nuclear missile force is prepared to deter any opponent. Further, work is underway to create the Agni-P generation of multipurpose missiles. India has also successfully tested the 3700 km range K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
Pakistan and its larger neighbor, China, will utilize the Agni V test to guarantee that Islamabad does not sign the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), claiming asymmetric conventional force levels with India. However, the Agni-V MIRV is intended to discourage expansionist China. The country which continues to seek parts of Indian territory after forcefully capturing Tibet in 1950 with brutal force.
The PLA had stationed two spy ships of the Xiang Yang Hong class to watch Agni V test, with Hong 01 transiting Malacca Straits on March 7-8 night. This was following India’s NOTOM for test trials on March 7. The Hong 01 is now stationed 500 kilometers west of Vizag. Apart, her sister ship, the Hong 03, is outside the Maldivian EEZ. IT IS monitoring the impact of tested missiles in the South Indian Ocean.
Why India did the test firing?
The Indian choice to test fire MIRV-equipped Agni-V is mainly due to China’s rapid development of intermediate-range nuclear ballistic missiles. This was never a part of the now-virtually defunct Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by the United States and Russia in 1987. Anti-missile barriers can’t stop the Agni V since each nuclear warhead has distinct velocities and objectives.
Reliable sources claim that there will be no more test firings because the goal has been met. Further, the project handlers have returned to headquarters, even though India sent out NOTAMs for March 15–16. The project directors will now review the missile’s trajectory and other characteristics. This will be in accordance with record by the Indian ballistic missile tracker INS Dhruv, making any necessary operational alterations. Wrapping Mission Divyastra has been an overwhelming success.
