India’s Agni-V Missile Test Concerns Top US Scientist; Says New Delhi Could ‘Disarm’ Pakistan With MIRV Tech

India tests it's MIRV missile, Agni V

India entered the exclusive group of countries with MIRV technology, thereby complicating China’s existing defensive strategies.

Stated as “no first use” policy when it comes to nuclear weapons, said India declaring its stance. However on the argument over MIRV technology, experts believe the increased survivability factor of its nuclear-tipped missiles meant it could also be useful for first strikes. The first one been developed during the Cold War, the missiles are associated with first-strike capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the success of the test of indigenously developed Agni-V nick-named as ‘Divyastra’ (celestial weapon), although the range of the missile(s) and the number of warheads it can carry has not been made public.

MIRVs allow a missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each independently targeted to different locations or even multiple warheads targeting few locations with multiple attack points. These warheads can be released at varying speeds and directions, significantly enhancing a missile’s effectiveness.

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Director of Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists Hans Kristensen expressed his disappointment at the test. “US/Russian decision to walk away from START II MIRV ban is looking less wise as more countries try to get MIRV,” Kristensen said.

The user trial of Agni-V in operational configuration with a range of over 5,000 km and a single 1.5-tonne warhead was conducted in 2021. It was the first user trial of the three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, which was inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which looks after India’s nuclear arsenal and vectors.

Indian 50-tonne Agni-V’s operational deployment enhanced the country's deterrence posture against China, which has missiles like the Dong Feng-41, which has a range of 12,000-15,000 kilometers, it can hit any Indian city. Agni-V brought the northernmost part of China within India’s striking range, and its canister launch paved the way for a swifter launch.

The first two launches of the Agni-V were done using a rail launcher. Since 2015, all launches have been conducted from a road-mobile launcher.