The story to this point: On March 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced on social media the successful flight test of an Agni V ballistic missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) below ‘Mission Divyastra’. It positioned India in a small group of nations with this expertise, by which a single missile can ship a number of nuclear warheads.

What are MIRVs and why are they vital?

A MIRV is a ‘missile bus’ whose passengers are nuclear bombs and which facilitates a single booster to ship them to completely different targets, Silky Kaur wrote in an article in Air Power Journal in 2022. “In 1970, the U.S. started to deploy the Minuteman III, the first MIRV-ed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with three warheads on each missile. In 1971, it deployed the Poseidon, the first MIRV-ed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which had the capability of carrying up to 10 warheads on each missile,” the article added.

The Soviet Union adopted the U.S. and by the Nineteen Seventies developed its personal MIRV-ed ICBM and SLBM expertise. A Russian MIRV-ed missile below growth might be able to carry as much as 16 warheads, every in a separate re-entry automobile, based on the Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and a few MIRV-ed missiles can hit targets so far as 1,500 km aside. The U.Okay. and France additionally possess the expertise.

China has developed and deployed MIRV expertise with a number of warheads positioned on its DF-5B ICBMs and is quick increasing and modernising its nuclear arsenal. According to Yearbook 2023 of the Swedish suppose tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China may probably have no less than as many ICBMs as both the U.S. or Russia by the flip of the last decade.

In a 1997 Congressional Research Service report for the U.S. Congress, Jonathan Medalia wrote MIRVs are a “force multiplier” as a result of one MIRV-ed missile can strike a number of targets. “This is especially important for SLBMs; if each missile carries, say, four warheads instead of one, then one submarine can do the work of four, saving a fleet the cost of many missiles and submarines. MIRVs are also useful for saturating and penetrating ballistic missile defences.”

What was the Mission Divyastra take a look at?

The DRDO mentioned in an announcement it carried out the take a look at from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, with varied telemetry and radar stations monitoring a number of re-entry autos. “The mission accomplished the designed parameters.”

Sources mentioned the MIRV system is supplied with indigenous avionics methods and excessive accuracy sensor packages that make sure the re-entry autos attain the goal factors with the specified accuracy. “The capability is an enunciator of India’s growing technological prowess,” sources mentioned. “The project director is a woman and it [the project] has significant contribution by women.”

The ‘Agni’ collection of missiles represent the spine of India’s nuclear weapons supply, and Agni V is the longest vary missile within the arsenal, with a attain of over 5,000 km. This means it could possibly attain most of China, particularly with a smaller warhead, which might enhance the vary additional. MIRV expertise provides higher leverage on this regard.

Mission Divyastra is important for a number of causes. In 1998, India carried out nuclear checks below Pokhran II. In 2003, it declared its nuclear doctrine primarily based on a ‘no first use’ (NFU) coverage and reserved the fitting to huge retaliation in case it was attacked first. Based on this, India introduced its choice to keep up a minimal credible deterrence and a nuclear triad – comprising plane, missiles, and submarines – to ship these nuclear weapons which has since been accomplished with ballistic missile submarines of the Arihant class conducting deterrence patrols. Specific technical traits of the MIRV expertise examined aren’t but identified.

A MIRV-ed missile enhances the redundancy as a single missile can carry out the function of a number of. It can assist defeat ballistic missile defences, which is essential since India’s adversaries are deploying refined air defences.

What lies forward?

The expertise growth is doubtless vital given its sophistication and functions. However, Mission Divyastra was the maiden take a look at of the MIRV expertise; there shall be just a few extra checks to validate the varied related elements and processes earlier than MIRV-ed Agni V might be declared match for serial manufacturing. The essential facet to look out for now’s the reactions from China and Pakistan. There has been a triangular contest between India, China, and Pakistan for lengthy, with China making an attempt to counter the U.S., and India making an attempt to steadiness the asymmetry with China, and Pakistan, in flip, making an attempt to even the scales with India.