India on May 8, 2026 successfully carried out the flight trial of an Advanced Agni missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system weas carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha.
The missile was flight-tested with multiple payloads, aimed at different targets spatially distributed over a vast geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region. The successful trial places India among a select group of nations capable of deploying multiple warheads through a single missile system. The MIRV capability enables one missile to carry and release several warheads, each aimed at a separate target. Once the missile completes its primary flight phase and its propulsion stages cut off, the individual warheads can detach and travel along their own designated trajectories.
With this successful trial of the missile, developed by DRDO laboratories with the support of industries across the country, India once again showcased the capability to target multiple strategic targets using a single missile system. . Hailing the achievement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said this will add an incredible capability to the country’s defence preparedness against the growing threat perceptions. Singh praised DRDO, the Indian Army, and Industry on the successful flight-test. The trial was witnessed by senior scientists of DRDO and the Indian Army personnel.
The announcement regarding the Agni MIRV system comes a day after the DRDO revealed that it carried out the maiden flight-trial of Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon. The Agni series forms the backbone of India’s strategic missile arsenal. While Agni-1 to Agni-4 missiles have ranges between 700 km and 3,500 km and are already operational, the Agni-5 significantly extends India’s reach. The Agni-5 missile has a strike range of up to 5,000 kilometres, making it one of India’s most powerful strategic weapons systems
