Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, announced the successful flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile, equipped with technology for deploying multiple warheads, in a mission termed 'Mission Divyastra'.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni missile series has evolved significantly over the years, showcasing India's advancements in indigenous missile technology.
Introduced in 1983, Agni-1 marked the inception of the Agni series, serving as a nuclear-capable missile with a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kg and a range of 700 kilometres.
Launched in 1999, Agni-2 extended the capabilities of its predecessor with an intermediate-range capability of 2,000 to 2,500 kilometres and advanced navigation systems for enhanced accuracy.
Successor to Agni-2, Agni-3 expanded the range to 3,500 kilometres while maintaining a high level of precision, boasting a circular error probable (CEP) of approximately 40 metres since its induction in 2011.
With Agni-4, introduced in 2012, India achieved a range of 4,000 kilometres, demonstrating enhanced mobility through road-mobile launchers and covering over 3,000 km in a single test launch.
Agni-5 will emerge as an intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of striking targets beyond 5,000 kilometres with remarkable accuracy. Its integration of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology will enable precise and targeted attacks.
The DRDO is in the initial stages of developing Agni-6, anticipated to have a range of 9,000 to 12,000 kilometres and a 3-tonne nuclear payload, further advancing India's capabilities in missile technology.