India successfully tests Agni-5 missile with MIRV capability from Odisha coast

India successfully carried out a test launch of the Agni-5 ballistic missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on May 10, defence officials said.

The test was conducted under Mission Divyastra and is being seen as a significant milestone in India’s strategic missile programme.

The Agni-5 is India’s longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile and is capable of striking targets over 5,000 kilometres away. The successful test demonstrated the missile’s ability to carry multiple nuclear warheads that can hit different targets simultaneously using MIRV technology.

Defence officials said the missile followed its planned trajectory and achieved all mission objectives during the test. Data from tracking systems stationed across multiple locations was analysed to verify the missile’s performance and accuracy.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed the missile system, stated that MIRV capability allows a single missile to deploy several warheads independently against different targets.

Military experts say the technology significantly enhances a country’s deterrence capacity because it makes interception more difficult for enemy missile defence systems.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated DRDO scientists and the armed forces after the successful test. In a post on social media platform X, Modi described the achievement as a proud moment for the country and praised the scientific community involved in the mission.

The successful demonstration places India among a small group of countries possessing operational MIRV technology. The capability is currently held by a limited number of nations including the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom.

Officials said the test was conducted as part of routine validation and operational readiness measures for India’s strategic forces. The Agni missile series forms a crucial part of India’s nuclear deterrence framework under its no-first-use policy.

The development comes amid increasing focus on strategic defence modernisation and advancements in missile technology across the region. Defence analysts have noted that the addition of MIRV capability substantially strengthens India’s long-range deterrence posture.