India working on advanced bunker-buster missile variant of Agni-5 for deep underground strikes
PTC Web Desk: India is building powerful new missiles to destroy enemy bunkers hidden deep underground. This comes soon after the United States used its biggest bunker-buster bomb, the GBU-57, to attack Iran’s Fordow nuclear site on June 22. India’s new project is being led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). They are working on a new version of the Agni-5 missile, which is usually used to carry nuclear weapons over 5,000 km.
But this new version will be different — it will carry a very large, non-nuclear warhead (about 7500 kg) and will be used to destroy underground enemy bases, like missile silos and command centres.
The missile is being designed to break through 80 to 100 metre of concrete and earth before exploding, making it perfect for hitting tough, hidden military targets. The idea is to match — or even beat — the power of American weapons like the GBU-57 and the Mother of All Bombs (GBU-43). Unlike the US, which drops these big bombs from giant aircraft, India’s bunker buster will be launched using missiles. This makes it cheaper, faster, and safer, and gives the military more flexibility.
Two new types of Agni-5 missiles are being made:
One with an airburst warhead to hit targets above the ground.
One designed to dig deep underground before exploding — just like the GBU-57.
Each warhead could weigh up to 8 tonne, making them some of the heaviest conventional (non-nuclear) bombs in the world. Although these new missiles will only reach about 2,500 km (less than the original Agni-5), their huge power and accuracy will make them extremely effective.
They are also expected to travel at speeds of Mach 8 to Mach 20 — that’s hypersonic speed, making them very hard to stop. This makes them as fast as the US’s most advanced bombs, but with even bigger payloads.
These missiles will be very useful if India ever needs to strike hidden or well-protected military targets in countries like Pakistan or China.
- With inputs from agencies
