Agni-5 Missile

Context:

India has successfully tested Agni-5 Missile.

UPSC Relevance:

UPSC CSE has focused on Defence Technology in prelims examination.

PYQ2023 Prelims:

Consider the following statements:

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket powered only in the initial phase of flight.

2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

About Agni-5 Missile:

• Agni-5 is an advanced intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)
• It is developed by India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• It is designed to carry nuclear warheads with long-range capability and is a key part of India’s strategic nuclear deterrence arsenal.
• It covers almost the entire Asian continent, including northern China, as well as parts of Europe.
• The missile enhances India’s capability to penetrate missile defense systems and respond decisively in case of nuclear aggression with a credible and flexible second-strike capability.
• Its development has raised concerns in neighboring countries regarding regional stability and nuclear balance.

Features:

• Range: Over 5,000 km, potentially extendable up to 7,500 km or more in upgraded variants.
• Payload: Capable of carrying nuclear warheads with up to 1.5 tonnes of payload capacity, including Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which allows it to strike multiple targets with a single missile.
  • An MIRV is a ‘missile bus’ whose passengers are nuclear bombs and which facilitates a single booster to deliver them to different targets.
  • Mission Divyastra was conducted by DRDO in 2024 led by a woman director . It was the first successful flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile equipped with (MIRV) Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle technology. 
  • Today, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France use MIRV technology on SLBMs. 
  • China has MIRVed ICBMs, while Russia deploys both MIRVed ICBMs and SLBMs.
  • The use of MIRVs on submarines is considered less destabilizing than on land-based missiles because the difficulty of finding nuclear submarines makes strikes against them unlikely.
  • In January 2017 Pakistan reportedly tested a MIRVed missile, the Ababeel. 

• Propulsion: Three-stage solid-fuel rocket motor for enhanced range, reliability, and faster launch capabilities.
• Guidance: Equipped with advanced guidance systems, combining gyroscope-based inertial navigation with satellite navigation systems such as India’s NavIC and American GPS, ensuring high accuracy over long distances.
• Launch system: Canisterized cold-launch system from mobile platforms for quick deployment and protection from harsh environmental conditions.
• Speed: Among the fastest missiles, reaching speeds up to Mach 24.

Comparison with Other Agni Missiles:

Note:

Read more about missiles and know the difference between cruise missiles and ballistic missile : Pralay Missile