The Agni-V: India’s Iron Fist
On 10 December 2018, India’s Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V was successfully test-fired for the seventh time by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Launch Complex 4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the coast of Odhisha in a lofted trajectory, thus completing the pre-induction trials.
The missile is usually programmed to attain an apogee of 600-km above prior descent, while the third stage firing the Re-entry Vehicle (RV) separates at 6-km/sec thereafter encountering the atmosphere at an altitude of 100 km. The RV subsequently attained further acceleration owing to gravity to record a speed of Mach 25+ and impacted the pre-designated target point at “pin-point accuracy”, within a few (reportedly single digit) metres of the designated target point around 2,000-km away. Although the exact range of Agni-V is classified, the road mobile missile is comfortably expected to reach targets in excess of 7,000-km if armed with a single 200-kt nuclear warhead thereby obliterating any hostile targets in Asian landmass from secure launch points deep interior India. The missile was ‘cold launched’ from a hermetically sealed canister mounted on a Tractor-Erector-Launcher (TEL) ensuring rapid launch sequence, higher reliability, longer shelf life, less maintenance and enhanced mobility to ensure survival.
With a length of 17.5-metres, diameter of 2-metres and “launch mass” of around 50-tonnes, thanks to extensive use of composites to reduce weight, the Agni-V is a three stage solid fuelled missile with composite motor casing in the second and in the miniaturised third stage. Agni-V incorporates advanced technologies involving Ring Laser Gyroscope based Inertial Navigation System (RLG-INS) plus Micro Inertial Navigation System (MINS) and accelerometer for navigation and guidance further to be boosted by military grade precise signals from Indo-Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system. Agni-V will also carry at least three Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) payloads within its 1.5 metre diameter all carbon composite RV (capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Celsius) to deliver multiple manoeuvring warheads at different targets or on a single target to execute saturated strike to overwhelm enemy Ballistic Missile Defences (BMD). In this context DRDO has successfully demonstrated the Hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) (also capable of propelling manoeuvring nuclear warheads) on 7 September 2020 from the same location. Lofted to an altitude of 30 km by a proven solid rocket motor, the HSTDV working at high dynamic pressure and high temperature sustained a speed of Mach 6, for 20 seconds.
A sea launched variant with a length of less than 12-metres may be anticipated for ballistic missilearmed nuclear powered submarines (SSBN) that may in peacetime double as Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) fired from proximity of equator to put multiple satellites in geo-synchronous orbits with ease. The Agni-V is poised to emerge as India’s standard ballistic missile to be put to mass production to ensure assured deterrence in foreseeable future. The stunning accuracy consistently displayed by the Agni-V prototypes, along with extensive mobility and indigenous BMD will enable India for the first time to adopt a “limited deterrence” posture by adopting both counter force and counter value stance.
Certainly the matured response of major global powers in response to India’s ICBM tests has affirmed India’s position as a responsible nuclear weapons State with self-imposed nonproliferation obligations. These tests also eliminated the Peoples Republic of China’s (PRC) long-time dream to dominate the Asian landmass in due course. It is also perhaps time for the Indian scientific community to conduct a couple of round of nuclear weapons tests to fine tune the thermonuclear devices to be mounted on the Agni-V, and an undertaking of signing Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) thereafter will certainly ensure global acceptance.