Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) Technology

Context:

On March 11, the Indian Prime Minister declared India’s entry into a select group of nations capable of deploying multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile. This milestone was achieved through the inaugural flight test of Agni-V, India’s longest-range ballistic missile, boasting a range of over 5,000 kilometers.

Relevance:

GS3-

• Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology
• Space Technology
• Indigenization of Technology

Mains Question:

The choice of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) on Agni-V gives it range and ability to defeat defences. In this context, discuss the working of MIRV technology and the significance it holds for India in terms of defense. (10 Marks, 150 Words).

More on the Feat:

Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV):

• Regarding MIRV technology, its origins trace back to the United States, where a MIRVed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) was deployed in 1970.
• MIRV technology enables a single missile to carry multiple warheads, typically ranging from 4 to 6, each capable of independently targeting different locations.
• This technology significantly enhances the effectiveness of the missile by increasing the number of potential targets it can engage.
• MIRVs can be launched from various platforms, including land-based and sea-based platforms like submarines, thereby expanding their operational flexibility and range.
• In terms of global adoption and proliferation, several nations possess MIRV technology, including major nuclear powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and India. Pakistan also conducted a test of MIRV technology (Ababeel Missile) in 2017.

Agni-V and MIRV:

• The test flight of Agni-V marked India’s inaugural trial of MIRV technology, aiming to deploy multiple warheads at different locations in a single launch.
• The test incorporated multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology as part of ‘Mission Divyastra,’ spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Since its initial test in April 2012, Agni-V has undergone numerous tests and developments, including canisterisation to enhance its handling and operational efficiency.
• The indigenous avionics systems and high-precision sensor packages of the MIRV system ensure that the re-entry vehicles accurately reach their target points.
• The DRDO has affirmed that the mission achieved its predetermined parameters. This test also occurs five years after India’s inaugural anti-satellite (ASAT) test under Mission Shakti.
• On March 27, 2019, a live satellite orbiting at a low earth orbit of approximately 300 kilometers was successfully intercepted using a modified interceptor from the Ballistic Missile Defence system.

Significance of the Feat:

• This represents a significant technological advancement that enhances India’s nuclear weapons program and bolsters its second-strike capability.
• This is particularly noteworthy considering India’s nuclear doctrine, which is founded on a no-first-use policy, credible minimum deterrence, and the threat of massive retaliation in the event of a first strike, a policy adopted in 2003 following the nuclear tests of 1998.
• The selection of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) for Agni-V, a three-stage solid-fueled engine, holds significance as it is primarily oriented towards China, given its range, and the capability of multiple warheads enhances its ability to penetrate missile defenses.
• India achieved the nuclear triad when the Prime Minister announced in November 2018 that the country’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant, had completed its first deterrence patrol.
• MIRV technology represents the next technological frontier in this direction, and it seems only logical and a matter of time before MIRVs are deployed on submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Conclusion:

China, which is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, has already deployed MIRV technology, initially deployed by the U.S. in 1970. Pakistan claims to have also tested this technology.  Consequently, the flip side of this development is the escalation dynamics that are expected to accelerate in the region, particularly with China and Pakistan. This competitive race of one-upmanship is likely to deepen, become more technology-intensive, and prove to be a costly endeavor.