India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the completion of India's inaugural flight test of a domestically produced missile featuring Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. This milestone marks the latest advancement in India's nuclear-capable Agni missile series, initiated in 1983.

The newly developed technology enables a single missile on the Agni-V platform to deliver multiple warheads to distinct targets, extending its range to 5,000 km (3,100 miles), positioning it as India's primary contender in the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) category.

Expressing pride in the achievement, Modi underscored the significance of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized India's accession to a select group of nations possessing this advanced missile capability.

India's successful test underscores its growing prowess in missile technology, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation spearheading the nation's military research efforts. Against the backdrop of escalating competition with China, India has intensified its development of medium and long-range missile systems since the 1990s.

India's advancements in missile technology not only serve its strategic interests but also contribute to its evolving defence partnerships, particularly within the Quad alliance alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia.