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OPINION MAY 22, 2026 | The Indian Eye 11

modern nuclear warheads are made It should be noted that no ma-
compact and lightweight. Together, jor authentic details about an Agni-
these platforms form the nuclear 6 programme are available in the
triad. A credible nuclear triad rests public domain. However, there are
on three pillars: strategic bombers occasional indications that such a
for aerial delivery; long-range or system may be under development.
CBMs for land-based deterrence; However, testing of such a missile is
and submarine-launched ballistic yet to happen. Possibly, several geo-
missiles (SLBMs) for survivable sec- political and strategic factors could
ond-strike capability. be influencing India’s decision not to
MIRV technology is part of the test such a system at this stage.
land-based missile component of India follows a credible mini-
this triad. By enabling a single mis- mum deterrence doctrine as a part
sile to carry multiple independently of its nuclear posture. Under this
targetable warheads, MIRVs signifi- framework, the primary objective is
cantly increase strike flexibility, pen- to ensure survivability and a reliable
etration capability, and deterrence second-strike capability.
value.
The integration of MIRV capa- Since the Agni-5 already pro-
bility into the Agni-5 programme
demonstrates India’s transition vides intercontinental reach,
towards more advanced and sur- the introduction or testing of a
vivable strategic systems, placing
it among a select group of nations further extended-range system
with sophisticated nuclear delivery like Agni-6 would not funda-
technologies.
The successful integration of mentally alter the existing de-
MIRV technology into the Agni-5 terrence balance. Hence, there
is a major achievement of decades
of efforts under India’s Agni missile is no operational urgency for
programme. There is a long histo- testing systems like Agni-6.
ry of Indian establishment making
inroads in the missile domain. The Large-scale missile testing car-
Government of India approved the ries significant strategic signalling
establishment of the Integrated consequences. Any test by India of a
Guided Missile Development Pro- new ICBM with a 10,000 km range
gramme (IGMDP) on 26 July 1983. could have been interpreted as esca-
The Agni-1 emerged from IGM-
DP, which also produced the Prithvi, latory by major powers beyond Chi-
na and Pakistan. In the current glob-
Akash, Nag and Trishul missile sys- al environment, where two active
tems. Initially conceived by DRDO conflicts with nuclear dimensions
as a technology demonstrator for already exist, such a test could have
re-entry vehicle validation, the early heightened tensions and potentially
Agni used a solid-fuel first stage de- triggered reciprocal missile devel-
rived from the SLV-3 space launch Note: SRBM stands for Short-Range Ballistic Missile (300 km to 1,000 km) and MRBM for opment or testing by other states,
vehicle and a modified upper stage. Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (1,000 to 3,000 km) essentially by China and Pakistan.
India successfully tested the
Agni demonstrator in 1989, fol- in its continued evolution. Reports survivability, and ability to evade ad- In the present context, the success-
ful test of the Agni-5 with MIRV
lowed by upgraded trials in 1992 and suggest that Agni-6 is currently under vanced missile defence systems. capability serves as a clear signal of
1994. After finalising re-entry stud- development and may be approach- It appears that DRDO’s ob- India’s credible nuclear deterrence
ies, DRDO converted the system ing the testing phase. This next-gen- jective is to ensure that the Indian posture.
into the single-stage Agni-1 ballistic eration project is expected further missile system can evade the world’s
missile. Development of this system to enhance range, mobility and pay- best missile defence systems, such as Group Captain (Dr) Ajey Lele (Retd.)
formally began in 1999, with suc- load flexibility. Repeated successful Russia’s S-500, America’s THAAD, is the Deputy Director General, MP-ID-
cessful operational testing complet- Agni-5 trials indicate that India has and China’s HQ-19. Agni-6 is ex- SA. Earlier, he was a Senior Fellow at
ed in 2003. Table 1 summarises the achieved significant progress in ad- pected to carry 10 to 12 warheads. the Manohar Parrikar Institute for De-
major characteristics of India’s Agni vanced seeker and guidance technol- The use of MaRVs, advanced decoys fence Studies and Analyses and a part
missile series. The service arm for ogies required for ICBMs. to deceive radars, and radar-absorb- of its Centre on Strategic Technologies
these systems is the Strategic Forces India’s next-generation Agni- ing coatings will be key to beating Views expressed are of the author and
Command (Army). 6 is expected to be a lighter, more the S-500, THAAD, and similar sys- do not necessarily reflect the views of
Presently, DRDO is working mobile, and rapidly deployable sys- tems. A MaRV is a type of ballistic
to expand India’s nuclear strike ca- tem with a potential range exceeding missile payload designed to change the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
Government of India.
pabilities well beyond its immedi- 10,000 km, with estimates ranging its flight path after re-entering the
ate neighbourhood. The successful from 8,000 to 12,000 km. The mis- Earth’s atmosphere. A MaRV’s abil- The full version of this article first ap-
integration of MIRV capability on sile is also expected to integrate both ity to change its trajectory enables it peared in the Comments section of the
the Agni-5 is not the conclusion of MIRV and Manoeuvrable Re-entry to evade enemy missile defence sys- website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
India’s missile development pro- Vehicle (MaRV) capabilities, signifi- tems. India is yet to test the MaRV rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
gramme, but a significant landmark cantly enhancing its strike flexibility, technology. Analyses, New Delhi, on May 13, 2026

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