India is advancing the development of a powerful new conventional variant of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, purpose-built as a bunker buster to eliminate heavily fortified and deeply buried strategic targets with exceptional precision and force.
As per recent reports, this cutting-edge missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will carry an enormous conventional warhead weighing up to 8,000 kg, with the capability to penetrate up to 100 meters underground before detonation. This marks a significant upgrade in India's conventional strike capabilities.
Filling the Strategic Bomber Gap
This development addresses a longstanding void in India’s defence strategy: the absence of a dedicated long-range strategic bomber. The new Agni-5 bunker buster variant is being positioned as a cost-effective, survivable solution that can perform deep-strike missions against hardened, high-value targets across the region.
The project reportedly commenced in mid-2025, driven by the need to counter growing regional threats and the existence of hardened underground military installations maintained by adversaries.
A Non-Nuclear Evolution of Agni-5
Unlike the nuclear-tipped original Agni-5 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which has a range beyond 5,000 km, this new conventional version sacrifices range for payload. With a reduced reach of around 2,500 km, it can deliver its massive warhead deep into enemy territory with lethal precision.
The missile is specifically tailored to destroy underground assets like command and control centers, nuclear storage depots, and missile silos, achieving devastation from within using advanced engineering and explosive mechanics.
Breakthrough Bunker-Busting Capability
The penetration capability of this missile stems from a hardened penetrator casing and a delayed-action fuse, which allow it to burrow through rock or reinforced concrete before triggering a devastating explosion. This design ensures that the target is destroyed from the inside, maximizing damage where it’s hardest to reach.
The missile travels at hypersonic speeds ranging between Mach 8 and Mach 20, making it nearly impossible for adversaries to intercept. Its canister-based launch system offers mobile deployment from road or rail platforms, enhancing survivability and operational flexibility.
Precision-Guided Targeting
Navigation is handled by a cutting-edge guidance system that integrates India’s indigenous NavIC satellite navigation with ring laser gyroscopes, delivering high-accuracy targeting capabilities over long distances.
In addition to the deep-penetration variant, a second Agni-5 version is reportedly in the pipeline, equipped with an airburst warhead designed to neutralize above-ground targets like airbases, radar stations, and other surface-level military infrastructure.
Unmatched in Global Comparisons
Globally, few conventional weapons match the specifications of India’s Agni-5 bunker buster. The U.S. GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—deployed from B-2 stealth bombers—has a 13,600 kg total weight but a relatively smaller 2,400 kg warhead, with a maximum penetration of 60 meters.
This reliance on bomber-based delivery platforms makes U.S. systems more vulnerable to modern air defence networks, something India's mobile, missile-based system largely avoids.
Meanwhile, Russia’s KAB-1500L-Pr and China’s DF-15C pale in comparison, offering significantly smaller payloads and penetration depths limited to around 20 meters, making India’s system arguably superior for conventional bunker-busting roles.
Strategic Impact on India's Defence Doctrine
The strategic utility of the Agni-5 bunker buster is substantial. It equips India with a potent tool to target critical enemy infrastructure, such as Pakistan’s alleged Kirana Hills nuclear facility or China’s underground missile bases, without resorting to nuclear weapons.
This advanced capability significantly boosts India’s conventional deterrence posture, offering credible pre-emptive strike options and expanding its ability to shape regional security dynamics. It underscores India's commitment to maintaining a decisive edge in non-nuclear strategic warfare through innovation and indigenous defence development.
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