India tests Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology

India successfully conducted the flight trial of an Advanced Agni missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle technology from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on Friday, May 8, 2026. The Defence Ministry confirmed that the missile was flight-tested with multiple payloads targeting different locations spread across a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region. The successful trial was monitored through telemetry and tracking operations conducted by multiple ground-based and ship-based stations, which tracked the missile's entire trajectory from launch until the impact of all payloads. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Indian Army, and industry partners for the achievement, stating it would add "an incredible capability" to India's defence preparedness amid evolving security challenges. The missile, identified as the Agni-5 fitted with MIRV technology, was developed by DRDO laboratories with support from industries across the country. Senior DRDO scientists and Indian Army personnel witnessed the trial, with flight data confirming all mission objectives were met during the test. The MIRV technology enables a single ballistic missile to carry and deliver multiple nuclear warheads to separate targets, significantly enhancing India's strategic deterrence capabilities while evading enemy missile defences. Key features of MIRV systems include exoatmospheric deployment, specialized maneuvering vehicles to guide each warhead to its target, and the ability to combine warheads with decoys to overwhelm interceptor systems. India's successful demonstration of this capability marks a major advancement in its indigenous defence technologies and military modernisation push, positioning the country among the select group of nations with such sophisticated missile technology.