MIRV TECHNOLOGY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Vice-President of India extended his congratulations on the success of Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV).

MIRV TECHNOLOGY

• About: MIRVs represent a pinnacle in strategic military technology, transforming the capabilities of ballistic missile payloads.
• The Birth of MIRV Technology: The United States' successful test of the Minuteman III in 1968 marked the inception of MIRV technology, with its deployment for actual use by 1970.
• Enhanced Effectiveness and Survivability: MIRV innovation allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, enabling several smaller warheads to replace a single larger one. 
• This enhances the effectiveness and survivability of missile systems against anti-ballistic missile defenses.
• Profound Strategic Shift: The strategic shift prompted by MIRVs has been profound, empowering nations to achieve greater target damage and reduce the effectiveness of enemy missile defense systems.
• Altering the Landscape of Global Nuclear Deterrence: MIRV technology has fundamentally altered the landscape of global nuclear deterrence by providing nations with the means to enhance their offensive capabilities and diminish the effectiveness of defensive systems.

Agni-5 Missile

• About: Agni is a long-range missile developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO.
• Long-Standing Arsenal: The family of Agni missiles has been in the arsenal of the Indian armed forces since the early 1990s.
• MIRV Technology Integration: This latest variant of the missile is equipped with what is known as MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology.
• Rare Technological Capability: MIRV technology, first developed at least five decades ago, is possessed by only a handful of countries.