India flight-tests Advanced Agni missile with MIRV system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
On 8 May 2026 India successfully flight-tested an Advanced Agni missile with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, hitting multiple targets spread over the Indian Ocean Region.
Summary
An Advanced Agni missile fitted with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system was successfully flight-tested by India from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on 8 May 2026. The missile carried multiple payloads aimed at different targets spread over a large area of the Indian Ocean Region, and ground and ship-based stations tracked the whole trajectory until all payloads hit; flight data confirmed that all mission objectives were met. Developed by DRDO laboratories with industry support, the trial was witnessed by DRDO scientists and Indian Army personnel, and Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the Army and industry. India's first MIRV flight test was Mission Divyastra, the Agni-5 test from the same island on 11 March 2024.
Key facts
- Test
- 8 May 2026; Advanced Agni missile with MIRV system
- Site
- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
- Targets
- Multiple payloads, targets spread over the Indian Ocean Region
- Developer
- DRDO laboratories with industry; witnessed by DRDO and Indian Army
- Background
- Mission Divyastra, 11 March 2024: first Agni-5 flight test with MIRV
Practice MCQs 4 questions
From where was the Advanced Agni missile with MIRV system flight-tested on 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
The flight-trial was conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
In the context of the Agni missile test of May 2026, what does MIRV stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle
MIRV stands for Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle, which lets a single missile hit several targets.
In the Advanced Agni MIRV test of 8 May 2026, the multiple payloads were aimed at targets spread over which area?
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Correct answer: D — A large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region
The payloads were targeted at different targets spatially distributed over a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region.
Consider the following statements: 1. Mission Divyastra, conducted on 11 March 2024, was the first flight test of the Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology. 2. The Advanced Agni MIRV test of May 2026 was conducted from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Both Mission Divyastra and the May 2026 test were conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, not Chandipur.