DRDO Pioneers Multiple Kill Vehicle System to Intercept Enemy MIRV Missile Attacks, Enhancing India's Ballistic Missile Defence Capabilities

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a sophisticated new technology known as the Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) system to fortify the nation's ballistic missile defence shield.

This advanced initiative is aimed at neutralising missile attacks from Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), a complex threat where a single missile carries several warheads capable of striking different targets.

A MIRV-equipped missile can release multiple warheads and decoys in the final phase of its trajectory, making it difficult for conventional missile defence systems to intercept each threat effectively.

The MKV system is being engineered specifically to overcome this challenge.

The technology involves a ground-launched interceptor missile that carries a single carrier vehicle. This carrier, guided by a high-resolution telescope, is designed to release several smaller, autonomous "kill vehicles" in the path of the incoming warheads.

Each of these small interceptors will then independently track and destroy its assigned target in the terminal phase of the attack, just before it re-enters the atmosphere.

The core strategy behind the MKV project is to overwhelm an incoming missile strike with superior numbers. By launching a swarm of kill vehicles from a single interceptor, the system significantly increases the probability of destroying all incoming enemy warheads.

This approach lessens the difficult task of discriminating between lethal warheads and non-lethal decoys, as the system can simply target all suspicious objects.

This "high-firepower" method is a critical upgrade to India's existing two-tiered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme.

The development of a robust defence against MIRVs is strategically vital, especially as several nations, including some in India's neighbourhood, have developed or are developing this capability.

The successful deployment of the MKV system would represent a major leap in India's strategic defence infrastructure.

It underscores a national commitment to creating a credible deterrence posture and will position India among a small group of nations with the technology to counter such advanced missile threats.

The system will undergo extensive and rigorous testing to confirm its reliability and effectiveness before its eventual integration into the armed forces.

 

With Up To 8000kg Warhead and 100m Penetration, India's New Agni-5 Bunker Buster Missile to Fill Strategic Bomber Needs for Deep-Strike

HAL to Outsource Tejas Mk2 Jet's Windscreen and Canopy Production to Private Sector, Strategically Ensuring A Robust Supply Chain

[Mc Addy]

When these multiple vehicles are fired, they don't follow a path but go spinning and they are not 1 or 2 but 50 plus so looks impossible to intercept. The only way to knock out a ICBM with multiple warhead , is in space , before it can reenter, as at reentry it has to slow down to near zero in space to get to target below so it must be hit at speed zero with its motherload inside . Rest is pot luck,jackpot if hit or a nuclear strike if warhead that Spin , escape destruction of one on one type situation .useless trying to chase warhead ,once they are dispensed and ejected at mach 7 , spinning and speeding .no one plans such systems, so they can hit from ground once dispensed. See multiple warhead videos of US, Russia and North Korea, even Pakistan has this capabilities.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Wow, this is the first time I am hearing about any country developing these.

 

[Akshar]

India should also develop a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, so that like in the case of an Anti-Satellite Weapon System, India would sit at the high table when a treaty regarding that is being made. We should never let the mistake of delaying nuclear tests recur in another manifestation ever again.

 

[Ashish Vatsa]

One of the most complex mechanisms is to counter MIRV. It is not very easy to achieve such a complex objective. Kudos to DRDO for taking this initiative, since MIRVs are extremely manoeuvrable with a decoy system. 100% interception is next to impossible, but if it is able to intercept even 80-90% of MIRVs, it will be commendable.

DRDO has already developed a BMD system, both Endo & Exo atmospheric systems. They can just modify this PAD & AAD with multiple kill vehicles along with a long-range telescope for the BMD system to achieve the objectives. Command, control, computer, along with a telescopic view, can be added along with UHF, VHF radar to track those hostile Ballistic Missiles with MIRV.

DRDO should dedicate a few scientists to roll out the system as soon as possible, since long trials would be required to validate its effectiveness.

 

[Kira]

India should also develop a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, so that like in the case of an Anti-Satellite Weapon System, India would sit at the high table when a treaty regarding that is being made. We should never let the mistake of delaying nuclear tests recur in another manifestation ever again.

True, all the latest and new generation technology should be tested first, as that will future proof India and prevent India from remaining outside of said treaty.

 

[Sandeep]

This project is very important and with the increasing threat from MIRV missiles we need to develop different type of missile defence systems.

This is something that needs to be intercepted before the missile crosses the border. We have to assume that any ballistic missile launch carries a nuclear payload and intercepting the missile over our country will spread the nuclear material over a large area of land causing widespread death and damage to the environment permanently.

We need to improve and increase the range of our missile early warning systems so that we can react in time. We should ideally have a variety of SAM linked with our BMD shield and particularly high altitude and long range missiles. This will allow us to track and intercept any MIRV that’s incoming by using several missiles. Creating MKV will work similarly to a MIRV missile but the roles reversed so we also need to develop a long range missile that can launch several small missiles guided by radar, infrared and a frequency seeker to intercept the threats. The MKV should only be used as a last resort when all other missiles have failed as there’s no guarantee they will all get intercepted and it will be very expensive to buy.

 

[Parveen Gahlot]

I always say that we are doing good in missile tech, this is proved again. MKV is one of the technologies which is not even owned by 3-4 countries yet. If these MKVs can counter even 80-85% of MIRV, that would be a great success.
We should increase the capacity of our Ballistic Missile Defence with more number of batteries.

 

[Imaxxx]

Is it necessary for DRDO to announce this? Can DRDO keep some projects and its details secret?

 

[Python]

Very good. We are developing cutting edge offensive and defensive missiles. Intercepting MIRV with a similar concept is good.