Advanced Agni missile with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system launch on May 08, 2026 | Photo: Ministry of Defence
India has conducted a flight-trial of an Advanced Agni missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system and separately completed a long-duration test of a scramjet combustor linked to the country’s hypersonic missile development programme.
The Ministry of Defence said the Agni missile was tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on May 8, 2026. According to the ministry, the missile carried multiple payloads directed at different targets spread across a large area of the Indian Ocean Region.
Telemetry and tracking were carried out by ground and ship-based stations, which monitored the missile’s trajectory from launch until the impact of all payloads. The ministry said flight data confirmed that all mission objectives had been achieved during the trial.
The ministry stated that the test demonstrated the capability to engage multiple strategic targets using a single missile system. The missile was developed by laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with support from Indian industry partners. Senior DRDO scientists and Indian Army personnel observed the trial.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said the successful flight-test would strengthen India’s defence preparedness. He congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry partners after the trial.
Extensive long-duration test of Actively Cooled Full Scale Scramjet Combustor with a runtime of over 20 minutes | Photo: Ministry of Defence
In a separate development, the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a DRDO laboratory based in Hyderabad, conducted a long-duration ground test of an actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor on May 9, 2026.
According to DRDO, the test achieved a run time of more than 1,200 seconds at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test Facility in Hyderabad. The test followed an earlier trial of more than 700 seconds conducted in January this year.
The combustor was designed and developed by DRDL with support from industry partners. DRDO said the system uses an indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel, thermal barrier coatings and advanced manufacturing methods.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said the test marked “a solid foundation for the nation’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Program.”
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams involved in the programme after the test.
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