India’s Agni-5 Bunker-Buster Variant to Carry Largest-Ever Conventional Warhead
In a bold step to upgrade its strategic capabilities, India is developing a conventional version of the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), designed specifically to carry an enormous 7,500-kilogram bunker-buster warhead. The project, being spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), marks a significant shift from nuclear deterrence to high-impact, precision conventional warfare.
The development follows closely on the heels of the United States’ deployment of GBU-57/A Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) against Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility on June 22, a move that has accelerated India’s own ambitions in advanced bunker-busting capabilities. With increasing tensions in global hotspots and rising threats from deeply entrenched adversarial infrastructure, India is preparing to match and potentially exceed the capabilities of leading global military powers.
Traditionally, the Agni-5 missile—India’s most advanced long-range missile—has been associated with nuclear payload delivery over distances exceeding 5,000 km. However, the modified variant currently under development will carry conventional warheads with unmatched payload capacity. These new warheads are designed to strike heavily fortified underground facilities, such as command centres, missile silos, and bunkers, penetrating as deep as 80 to 100 metres before detonation.
This advancement places India among a select group of nations capable of developing and deploying massive deep-penetration munitions. In contrast to the US, which relies on large strategic bombers like the B-2 Spirit to deploy the GBU-57 MOP, India’s delivery system will be missile-based—a more agile, cost-effective, and survivable method of deployment. This shift could redefine regional military doctrines, particularly in scenarios involving swift precision strikes on hardened targets.
Two distinct variants of the new Agni-5 missile are reportedly under development. The first will feature an airburst warhead tailored for surface-level or near-surface military installations, while the second is engineered to act as a deep-penetration bunker buster, closely mirroring the US GBU-57 in function but aiming for a larger payload capacity of up to 8,000 kilograms, which would make it one of the most powerful conventional warheads in the world.
Despite a reduced range of approximately 2,500 km—down from the original Agni-5’s intercontinental range—the missile’s destructive capability and precision more than compensate for the shorter reach. With hypersonic speeds estimated between Mach 8 and Mach 20, these weapons can strike swiftly and evade existing missile defense systems, further reinforcing their strategic utility.
According to senior defence officials, these missiles will be vital in countering threats from nations like China and Pakistan, where military infrastructure is increasingly being relocated underground. By giving India the capability to target such facilities, the new Agni-5 variants provide a significant deterrent and operational advantage.
Additionally, the DRDO’s initiative aligns with the broader national goal of achieving defence self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission. The involvement of India’s private sector in defence manufacturing, particularly in developing subcomponents and potentially the full missile variants, demonstrates a maturing military-industrial base.
The new Agni-5 bunker-buster is not merely a response to global developments; it is a strategic leap forward, signalling India’s preparedness for next-generation warfare. As nations increasingly build hardened, hidden command structures, India’s ability to neutralise them using indigenously developed missile technology puts it in a stronger, more assertive position on the global defence map.
IT.