India's Agni-5 Vs Pakistan's Ababeel in MIRV Tech: One Succeeds, Other Flops

New Delhi: On March 11, India tested its first MIRV or Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle technology via only true Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in Souast Asia, Agni 5. However, Pakistan also claims to have achieved MIRV capability nearly six years ago back in 2017 and since n h only tested it twice or thrice, as per media reports.

latest test of Pakistan’s Ababeel came in October, last year when Pakistan issued a NOTAM, Notice to Airmen, with a maximum range of 1230 km. However, it didn't even get to witness Arabian sea breeze as it fell into Pakistan's province of Balochistan itself, substantiated by media and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) reports.

Pakistan's October Failure?

Pakistan's October test of Ababeel weapon system took a turn when reports emerged of a malfunction. Pakistan Army Public Relations Department initially announced successful test on Wednesday, ding that various designs and technical parameters were validated. However, OSINT reports contricted Pakistan’s claim of success. Later, media caught up and suggested that missile veered off course and crashed in Balochistan. Witnesses in vicinity reported seeing smoke emerging from falling object, later identified as debris from Pakistan's claimed MIRV test. Contrary to official claims, missile's trajectory strayed from its intended path, and thus initiated row of concerns about Pakistan's missile capabilities.

First Stage Falls Off at 200 Km, ISPR Deems Test a 'Success'

No details or official specifications of Pakistani missile is available in public domain even after six years of its introduction. However, missile does raise Pakistani fervour a lot, it being, as per ISPR claims, Souast Asia first MIRV capable missile afterall. Furr analysis suggests that test was conducted from a launch site in Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan's Punjab province, and missile debris following test of claimed over 2000 km missile was found in Dera Bugti in Balochistan, just 183 kilometres from launch site. 

So was it really a success? 

Ababeel reportedly is a missile that employs a two-stage engine. It might be first stage that separated; however, questions arise: if missile has a maximum range reportedly of over 2000 km range, how could first stage separate within 200 kms? video released following test also showed something getting separated at missile’s initial terminal phase itself. launch, however, was attended by high-ranking Pakistani military officials and scientists and was lauded by Pakistani media.

Back to Real Souast Asian MIRV Capable ICBM, Agni-V 

Coming back to India’s true MIRV test, Prime Minister Modi, President Draupi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with or officials, said y were ‘proud of DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology’. 

Agni 5 has capability to reach most parts of Asia, and with its newfound MIRV capability, it will now act as India’s premier nuclear deterrent capable of hitting multiple targets via a single launch. To simplify, it now has power to decimate portions of continent if necessary. However, it is needed to mention that India still has its no-first-use policy, which means under no circumstances will India push metaphoric red button first.

What Capability Does India’s ‘MIRVed’ Agni Grants, Former Vice Air Chief Anil Khosla Explains 

According to India’s 42nd Vice Chief and Former Director General of Air Operations Indian Air Force, Anil Khosla, MIRV upgre to India’s only ICBM is a ‘significant’ capability boost. "MIRVs allow a missile to carry multiple warhes, each independently targeted to different locations. se warhes can be released at varying speeds and directions, increasing missile’s effectiveness," Khosla said, while ding that "a MIRVed missile would be armed with multiple warhes, allowing a single missile to hit several different targets at once or hit a single target with multiple warhes. Khosla furr told Republic that "MIRVs can penetrate ballistic missile defences by overwhelming defence system of versaries attempting to intercept multiple warhes. It would also make MIRVs harder to intercept with anti-missile technology."

Khosla’s statement does resonate with an incident whose anniversary was just two days prior to India’s MIRVed Agni test. incident in question is a misfire. On March 9,2022, a BrahMos Missile, according to Indian government’s official statement, misfired. However, it travelled 124 km within Pakistan and impacted an area in Mia Channu area. Pakistan claimed to have alrey tracked initial trajectory, but questions do surface regarding why y couldn't neutralise threat to ir sovereignty.

" use of MIRVed missiles on mobile platforms would increase ir survivability manifold as it would be difficult to locate m,” Former VCAS Anil Khosla ded. Indian Armed Forces and Strategic Command h long ago ensured survivability of missile and enhanced its development by focusing on making sure that missiles could be launched from mobile platforms and stored in canisterized forms, similar to what Former Vice Air Chief mentioned.

Pakistan’s Ababeel vs India’s Agni-V, Analysis Based on Info Available

Origin and Purpose

Ababeel

• Developed by Pakistan as its first medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).
• Designed to increase Pakistan's deterrence capability in response to regional security concerns.

Agni-V

•  Developed by India as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
•  Aimed at making India's nuclear tri stronger and providing a credible deterrent against both regional and global threats.

Range and Paylo

Ababeel

•   Estimated maximum range of 2,200 km.
•   Capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warhes.
•   ‘Potential’ for Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology.

 Agni-V

• Range can vary from 5,000 km to 8,000 km, depending on of paylo it carries.
• Designed to carry nuclear and conventional paylos.
• Now fully MIRV capable with ability to carry multiple warhes.

Basing and Mobility

Ababeel

• missile can be deployed using a ro-mobile system.

Agni-V

•  Also ro-mobile; however, it uses a canisterized launch system for more mobility and reduced launch preparation time.
•   canister also provides protection from environmental conditions and reduces maintenance requirements.
• new MIRVed Agni 5 also incorporates greater amounts of composite material in comparison to older version of missile, as per reports.

Development and Testing

Ababeel

•   Likely initiated in mid to late 2000s, potentially with foreign assistance.
•   Limited flight testing history, with uncertainty surrounding use of MIRV technology.

Agni-V

• Development initiated in 2008 by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Conducted multiple successful flight tests, transitioning to canister-launched, ro-mobile launches as well.
• Also used manoeuvring warhe technologies, commonly known as manoeuvrable reentry vehicles (MaRV).

(Disclaimer: Comparing missiles isn't right way to determine a country's capability of safeguarding itself from ballistic missile threats. However, India has developed its own multi-phased Ballistic Missile Defence system and has proven its capability in multiple test runs, Pakistan still relies on medium to intermediate Chinese air defense systems to safeguard its airspace.)