Shailesh Kumar, National Defence
New Delhi, 09 May 2026
India has conducted the successful flight-trial of an Advanced Agni missile with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha on May 08, 2026. The missile was flight-tested with multiple payloads, targeted to different targets spatially distributed over a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region. The Government sources say that the missile test involves Agni-5, however the press note does not mention whether the tested missile is Agni-5 or Agni-6.
The Agni-5 MIRV system represents a massive leap forward in India’s nuclear deterrence and national security.
Instead of a traditional payload that carries only one warhead, a single Agni-5 MIRV can carry multiple nuclear warheads (typically 4 to 6).
Mission carries multiple warheads with Independent Targeting. Once the missile reaches space (an altitude of roughly 300 to 400 kilometers), it releases these “baby missiles,” each programmed with its own guidance and attitude control software to strike widely separated targets.
The Agni-5 is a three-stage, solid-fueled missile with an operational range exceeding 5,000 km, placing vast territories within its reach.
The telemetry and tracking was carried out by multiple ground and ship-based stations. These systems tracked the entire missile trajectory from lift-off till the impact of all payloads. Flight data confirmed that all mission objectives were met during the trial.
With this successful trial, India once again demonstrated the capability to target multiple strategic targets using a single missile system. This missile is developed by DRDO laboratories with the support of Industries across the country. The trial was witnessed by senior scientists of DRDO and the Indian Army personnel.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, Indian Army, and Industry on the successful flight-test. This will add an incredible capability to the country’s defence preparedness against the growing threat perceptions, he said.
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