Sign In
Learn bits
Defence & Security
Mahesh

17/03/24 08:24 AM IST

MIRV missiles

In News
  • Indigenously developed Agni V missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle technology was successfully-tested as part of Mission Divyastra recently.
Significance of MIRVs
  • A MIRV is a ‘missile bus’ whose passengers are nuclear bombs and which facilitates a single booster to deliver them to different targets.
  • “In 1970, the U.S. started to deploy the Minuteman III, the first MIRV-ed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with three warheads on each missile.
  • In 1971, it deployed the Poseidon, the first MIRV-ed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which had the capability of carrying up to 10 warheads on each missile.
  • The Soviet Union followed the U.S. and by the 1970s developed its own MIRV-ed ICBM and SLBM technology.
  • A Russian MIRV-ed missile under development may be able to carry up to 16 warheads, each in a separate re-entry vehicle, according to the Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and some MIRV-ed missiles can hit targets as far as 1,500 km apart.
  • The U.K. and France also possess the technology.
  • China has developed and deployed MIRV technology with multiple warheads placed on its DF-5B ICBMs and is fast expanding and modernising its nuclear arsenal.
Mission Divyastra
  • MIRV system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high accuracy sensor packages that ensure the re-entry vehicles reach the target points with the desired accuracy.
  • The ‘Agni’ series of missiles constitute the backbone of India’s nuclear weapons delivery, and Agni V is the longest range missile in the arsenal, with a reach of over 5,000 km.
  • This means it can reach most of China, especially with a smaller warhead, which would increase the range further. MIRV technology gives better leverage in this regard.
  • A MIRV-ed missile enhances the redundancy as a single missile can perform the role of several.
  • It can help defeat ballistic missile defences, which is important since India’s adversaries are deploying sophisticated air defences.
Source- The Hindu

More Related Current Affairs View All

21 Sep

India Achieves Tier 1 Status in Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

' India has secured Tier 1 status in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).' The GCI is a comprehensive assessm

Read More

21 Sep

A new White Revolution

'Operation Flood, launched in 1970, ushered in the White Revolution and transformed the dairy sector in India.' Dairy cooperatives procured 660 lakh kg of milk per day in 2023-2

Read More

21 Sep

Changes in Canada’s international work permit system

'Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to the country’s international work permit system, aiming to reduce the number of immigrant workers in Canada.'

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps