Latest news with #Agni-V
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
BrahMos Delivers A Sharp Message. Agni-V Sends A Stronger One
Last Updated: Agni-V, with advanced navigation, MIRV tech, and a range over 5,000 km, marks a major leap in India's strategic missile capabilities and global deterrence In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, deploying BrahMos cruise missiles as part of its strategic response. The BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, has seen its range increase from 290 kilometres to 450 kilometres, with ongoing efforts to push it further to 800 kilometres. This makes it a potent tool in India's tactical arsenal. Yet, while the BrahMos exemplifies speed and precision on the battlefield, it is the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that stands as the crown jewel of India's long-range deterrence strategy—capable of delivering a much larger payload over far greater distances. Range and Reach of Agni-V Developed by the DRDO, Agni-V represents a quantum leap in India's missile capabilities. With an estimated range of 5,000 to 5,800 kilometres—and some expert assessments suggesting it may exceed 7,000 kilometres—Agni-V places India in an exclusive group of nations with operational ICBM capabilities. Future variants are reportedly in development with ranges that could stretch between 10,000 and 12,000 kilometres. Game-Changing MIRV Technology A landmark moment came on March 11, 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful test of the Agni-V equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology. This enables a single missile to carry multiple warheads—each capable of striking separate targets. Often described as a 'missile bus", MIRV technology significantly enhances both offensive capability and deterrence. Historically, the US pioneered this advancement in 1970 with the Minuteman III ICBM and later the Poseidon SLBM, which could carry up to 10 warheads. With the successful integration of MIRV technology, Agni-V cements India's place among a select group of technologically advanced nuclear powers. It's not just a missile—it's a message of strategic depth and cutting-edge capability. A Technological Leap The Agni-V is more than just a long-range missile—it's a symbol of India's rapid advancement in indigenous defence technology. Unlike its predecessors, Agni-V incorporates cutting-edge features such as ring laser gyroscope-based inertial navigation, micro-navigation systems, and highly accurate guidance mechanisms, ensuring it can strike targets with pinpoint precision across continents. Its three-stage solid-fuelled propulsion system allows it to cover vast distances while maintaining structural stability and speed. The missile is also canisterised, meaning it can be launched from a road-mobile launcher, significantly improving its readiness and survivability. This mobility gives India second-strike capability—an essential component of a credible nuclear deterrent. In terms of survivability and response, canisterised missiles can be moved and launched from hidden locations, making them harder to detect or pre-emptively neutralise. This flexibility adds another layer to India's strategic posture. Moreover, Agni-V's development and successful MIRV integration underscore India's move toward next-generation deterrence systems, combining survivability, mobility, and multi-target engagement. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, Agni-V ensures India is not just keeping pace but emerging as a self-reliant, tech-driven strategic power. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 30, 2025, 12:37 IST
India.com
06-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan Test-Fires New Missiles: India Or Pakistan, Who Has More Powerful Missiles?
photoDetails english 2896497 Updated:May 06, 2025, 02:04 PM IST ICBM, MIRVs At Display 1 / 7 India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, have developed extensive missile arsenals as part of their strategic deterrence postures. While both nations possess a range of missile capabilities, India's missile program exhibits advancements in range, payload, and technology, particularly with the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology. 1. India's Long-Range Missile Capabilities 2 / 7 India's missile program, spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), includes the Agni series. Agni-V is an ICBM with a range of approximately 7,000–8,000 km, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and equipped with MIRV technology. Agni-VI is currently under development, this missile is expected to have a range exceeding 10,000 km and will also feature MIRV capabilities. 2. Pakistan's Missile Capabilities 3 / 7 Pakistan's missile arsenal primarily focuses on regional deterrence. Shaheen-III is a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,750 km, capable of reaching all parts of India. Ababeel was tested in 2017, and this missile reportedly has a range of 2,200 km and is designed to carry MIRVs, enhancing its strategic capabilities. While these missiles bolster Pakistan's deterrence posture, their range and technological sophistication are currently limited compared to India's ICBMs. 3. Nuclear Warhead Estimates 4 / 7 Both countries maintain nuclear arsenals as part of their strategic deterrence and India is estimated to possess approximately 165-170 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is estimated to have around 170-172 nuclear warheads. 4. Technological Advancements 5 / 7 India has made significant strides in missile technology. India's successful test of the Agni-V with MIRV capability allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of striking different targets. Pakistan's development of the Ababeel missile indicates efforts to achieve similar capabilities, though operational deployment details remain limited. 5. Strategic Doctrines 6 / 7 Adheres to a "No First Use" (NFU) nuclear policy, India emphasizing deterrence and restraint. Pakistan maintains a policy that allows for first use of nuclear weapons under certain circumstances, aiming to deter conventional military threats. 6. India vs Pakistan Verdict 7 / 7 In summary, while both India and Pakistan have developed missile capabilities to serve their strategic objectives, India's advancements in long-range ICBMs and MIRV technology provide it with a more extensive and technologically sophisticated missile arsenal. Pakistan continues to enhance its missile capabilities, focusing on regional deterrence and developing technologies trying to get an edge against India.
India.com
05-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India-Pakistan war: India's 'Nirbhay' or Pakistan's 'Abdali', which missile is more dangerous, know their range, speed and....
India-Pakistan war: India's 'Nirbhay' or Pakistan's 'Abdali', which missile is more dangerous, know their range, speed and.... After the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has been continuously threatening India with nuclear attack and blood will flow instead of water. In fact, Pakistan's military has claimed it has successfully test-fired a ballistic missile as tensions with neighbouring India over a deadly shooting attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month remain high. So, Pakistan's Abdali ballistic missile or India's Nirbhay and Pralay, which is more powerful? How much power does Abdali have? Abdali Ballistic missile is also known as Hatf-2. It has been made by Pakistan's Space Research Commission. Equipped with a modern navigation system, this missile is said to be capable of hitting the target accurately. Its range is 450 kilometers, but it is not capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The surface-to-surface missile, named the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450km (280 miles), was successfully tested as part of an exercise on Saturday, Pakistan's government said. The tactical missile, which can carry conventional and nuclear warheads, is named after Ahmad Shah Abdali, the 18th-century founder of modern Afghanistan who led numerous invasions of the Indian subcontinent. How many powerful missiles does India have? India has dangerous missiles like Brahmos, Hypersonic Missile, Agni-V, Nirbhay, Pralay, Prithvi-2, S-200. India's most lethal missile is Agni-V, which has a range of 5000 km to 8000 km. Agni-V and K-4 SLBM missiles with a range of 3500 km are also enough to destroy Pakistan. Agni-V is a surface-to-surface missile. One ton of nuclear weapons can be carried through it. Indian and Pakistani fighter jets According to the Global Firepower Index, the total number of aircrafts India has is 2229. Pakistan has 1399 aircrafts. India has a total of 513 fighter aircrafts, while Pakistan has 328. India also has the most advanced Rafale fighter aircraft.
India.com
02-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Rafale, Agni missiles, K9 Vajra howitzers...: 10 deadly weapons of India that can turn Pakistan to dust within days, Asim Munir will beg for mercy
(File) India-Pakistan War: Amid heightened tensions and the looming threat of an India-Pakistan war, focus has been drawn to the weapons of war possessed by the two nuclear-armed rivals. Defence experts across the spectrum uniformly agree that India is a superior military power with more advanced weapons and well-trained professional armed forces. Additionally, India makes indigenous weapons, while Pakistan is reliant upon other nations, especially China, for its armaments. Let us take a look at 10 deadly weapons of India which have the capability to turn Pakistan to ash within days in a potential India-Pakistan war scenario: Rafale Fighter Jets The trusted French-made Rafale fighter jets are the primary warplanes of the Indian Air Force (IAF). These multi-role fighter jets are equipped with Meteor and Scalp missiles, able to carry out precision attacks over a distance of more than 150 combat plane's advanced AESA radar system and stealth capabilities make it a formidable threat capable of bursting through Pakistan's air defense system, and carry out air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks. Agni-V Missile The Agni-V is India's most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), boasting a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers, and capable of travelling at above supersonic speeds. The Agni-V missile is a nuclear-capable missile, means it can carry nuclear warhead, and is equipped Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, giving it the capability to strike multiple targets with a single missile. The range of Agni-V is alone to cause panic among Pakistani ranks as it can easily reach any part of the neighboring country and take out strategic targets. BrahMos Missile Jointly developed by India and Russia, BrahMos is considered the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile with speeds of up to Mach 2.8 to Mach 3 (about 3,700 km/h). Apart from being blazingly fast, the BrahMos is a versatile missile, and has variants that can be launched from land, sea and air. BrahMos has a range of up to 600 kilometers, and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, making it a formidable threat for Pakistan's naval and coastal bases. Hypersonic Missile (HSTDV) A revolutionary weapon developed by India's DRDO, the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft designed to test and validate technologies for hypersonic flight, focusing on the use of scramjet engines to achieve and sustain hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 and above. With the launch of HSTDV, India has successfully demonstrated its hypersonic capabilities, and is well on the way to develop hypersonic missiles which cannot be detected by any radar system or intercepted by any missile systems currently in existence. Pralay Missile This indigenously built surface-to-surface ballistic missile has a range between 150 to 500 kilometers, and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 kg. The precision strike capability of the Pralay missile makes it effective in destroying enemy bunkers, military bases and command centers. Nirbhay Cruise Missile: Nirbhay is a long-range subsonic cruise missile with a range of over 1,000 kilometres, and can be launched from land, sea and air. The Nirbhay missile is equipped with Terrain Contour Mapping (TERCOM) technology, which enables it to evade radar and hit the target accurately. K9 Vajra Howitzers The K9 Vajra-T is a 155mm, 52-caliber tracked self-propelled howitzer gun co-developed by India and South Korea. Designed for the Indian Army, the K9 Vajra-T cannon is a multi-terrain howitzer with the ability to operate across a diverse range of terrains, including deserts, plains, and high-altitude areas. The versatility of K9 Vajra makes it a formidable defensive and offensive weapon on the India-Pakistan border. Pinaka MBRL The Pinaka is an indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launcher system capable of firing multiple rockets simultaneously inside an active battlefield, targeting enemy military bases, tanks and soldiers. The Pinaka MBRL has a range between 40 to 90 kilometers, ensuring operation from a safe distance. India has also developed the Pinaka Mk-II, a more advanced version of the original. Arjun Battle Tank The Arjun is the main battle tank of the Indian Army. The indigenously built tank has advanced armor and cannons, making it literally invincible on the battlefield. India's Arjun tanks is equipped with 120 mm main cannon and can fire laser-guided missiles, making it a major threat for Pakistani tanks such as the Al- Khalid. Anti-satellite missiles (ASAT) India successfully tested its anti-satellite missile (ASAT) under Mission Shakti in 2019. The ASAT is designed to target enemy satellites in space, to disable their communication and surveillance capabilities. Pakistan does not have any space capability, giving India a major edge if an India-Pakistan war erupts.
News18
02-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
From Agni to BrahMos: 5 Indian Missiles Whose Range Covers Pakistan
Last Updated: At the heart of this capability are the Agni-series ballistic missiles and the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, systems that underscore India's evolving deterrence posture. Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, regional tensions have escalated, prompting quiet but significant recalibrations within Pakistan's security establishment. According to sources, concerns are being raised in Islamabad over India's expanding missile arsenal – an array of advanced systems that provide New Delhi with both comprehensive defensive reach and strategic depth. At the heart of this capability are the Agni-series ballistic missiles and the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, systems that underscore India's evolving deterrence posture. Several of these missiles are nuclear-capable and deployed on mobile launchers, lending them a level of flexibility and unpredictability that complicates traditional military planning. While there has been no formal indication of an imminent confrontation, officials and analysts note that Pakistan's defence forces are operating with heightened vigilance. Leading this elite missile lineup is the Agni-V, India's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). With a range between 5,000 and 5,500 kilometres, Agni-V is capable of delivering a nuclear payload across not only the entirety of Pakistan, but also into key regions of China and even the fringes of Europe. Its road-mobile launcher makes it highly versatile and difficult to detect in advance. The missile is considered a game-changer in India's strategic deterrence doctrine, bolstering second-strike capabilities and complicating adversarial calculations. Agni-III: The Versatile Heavy-Hitter With a strike range of 3,000 to 3,500 kilometres and a payload capacity of 1.5 tonnes, the Agni-III is a powerful weapon designed for flexible deployment. Launchable from both road and rail platforms, the missile integrates inertial and satellite navigation systems, ensuring high accuracy and minimal launch preparation time. Its reach comfortably spans major strategic sites in both Pakistan and China. Agni-II: Tactical Readiness, Strategic Impact The Agni-II, classified as a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), was developed with an operational range of up to 2,500 kilometres. Though earlier in the Agni series, it remains an integral part of India's missile forces. Its relatively lighter payload of around 1,000 kgs and the capability to carry nuclear or conventional warheads make it a versatile option for tactical deterrence. BrahMos: Speed as a Strategic Weapon While its initial range was limited between 400-800 kilometres, the new variants of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile have extended that figure to approximately 1,500 kilometres. What it lacks in range compared to the Agni series, it compensates for with unprecedented speed (Mach 2.8 to 3) and pinpoint precision. Co-developed with Russia, the BrahMos is deployable from land, sea, and air platforms, granting India unmatched flexibility in rapid-strike scenarios. As these missile systems are paraded in military drills and tested under stringent conditions, their psychological impact on India's neighbours is unmistakable. First Published: May 02, 2025, 11:19 IST
