Days after Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir V Kamath revealed that the R&D agency was prepared to test India's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range exceeding 10,000 kilometres, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly hinted that the 'Agni-6' missile is poised for a historic launch. The BJP stated that the missile is ready to make history, awaiting only the government's green light.
NOTAM Issued for Bay of Bengal
Coinciding with the announcement, India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) designating a large area in the Bay of Bengal as a danger zone, typically done ahead of a long-range missile test. This move has further fueled speculation that the Agni-6 test could be imminent.
BJP's Official Statement
In a post on its official X account, the BJP declared: “Agni-6: India marching towards becoming a superpower! With a strike range of 10,000+ km and MIRV technology, Agni-6 is ready to make history. This missile will make India's security impregnable and place us in the league of the world's most powerful nations. Powerful India, Secure India!”
The party also released a video explaining that currently only five countries—the United States, Russia, China, France, and Britain—possess intercontinental ballistic missile capability. With Agni-6, India is set to join this elite club. The video emphasized that the missile's extended range will give India not just regional but global reach.
MIRV Technology: A Game Changer
The BJP post highlighted the integration of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which allows a single missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets simultaneously. This capability, previously limited to the US, Russia, and China, enhances strike effectiveness and complicates enemy missile defense efforts.
“Think about it. One missile, multiple targets. That is, MIRV technology. Which can do multiple things at once. This is the power that was only with countries like America, Russia and China. But now, India is also standing at the same level,” the post added.
India's Growing Missile Arsenal
This development comes shortly after India successfully conducted the second flight-test of a Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) with a range of 1,500 km and a speed of Mach 10. No country currently possesses a proven capability to intercept such a high-speed hypersonic weapon, underscoring India's advancing military technology.
The BJP concluded by stating, “This is the change that is taking India to a new era. Where guided missile power is not only power but also a scale of global power.” With Agni-6 on the horizon, India is poised to strengthen its strategic deterrent and assert its position as a major global power.
