Context:
Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted Mission Divyastra.
Mission Divyastra:
- 1st flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile
- Technology – Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology
- Test conducted at –Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Odisha)
MIRVs technology:
- Allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of striking different targets independently
- Aim – Deploying multiple warheads at distinct locations in a single launch
- Launched from – Land or sea from a submarine
- US – 1st country to develop MIRV technology
- Deployed a MIRVed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 1970
- Other countries – Russia, UK, France, and China
- Pakistan – Reportedly tested a MIRVed missile ‘the Ababeel’ in 2017
Agni-5 missile:
- Agni – A long-range missile developed indigenously by the DRDO
- Development – Early 1990s
- Under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
- Under the leadership of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
- Number – 6 Variants of Agni Missiles
- Features of Agni -5 missile –
- Uses a 3-stage solid-fuelled engine and has a range of more than 5,000 km
- Equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages
- Can deliver multiple nuclear warheads against different targets spread across 100s of kilometers
Related articles: ICBM
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
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?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct:
Ballistic missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight, while cruise missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights.
Statement 2 is not correct:
Agni-V is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, while BrahMos is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile.
