India is set to make a significant leap in its strategic arsenal with the development of an upgraded Agni-5 missile variant equipped with the country’s largest-ever conventional bunker-buster warhead. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is fast-tracking this project, aiming to provide India with the capability to strike deeply buried and heavily fortified enemy targets, a move inspired by recent global military developments.
The missile will carry a 7,500 kg conventional bunker-buster warhead, making it one of the most powerful non-nuclear payloads in the world.
Engineered to penetrate 80 to 100 meters underground before detonation, it targets command centers, missile silos, and storage facilities shielded by reinforced concrete.
Unlike the original nuclear-capable Agni-5 with a range exceeding 5,000 km, the upgraded variant will have a range of about 2,500 km to accommodate the heavier warhead. The missile is expected to reach hypersonic velocities, between Mach 8 and Mach 20, ensuring rapid delivery and complicating enemy defense efforts
Bunker-buster missiles are specialized weapons designed to destroy underground or heavily fortified targets. Unlike conventional warheads that explode on impact, bunker busters use their mass, hardened casings, and advanced guidance systems to burrow deep into the earth or through concrete before detonating, maximizing their destructive effect.
The urgency for such a weapon grew after the United States used GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators against Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, setting a new benchmark for deep-penetration munitions. India’s missile-based approach offers a cost-effective, flexible alternative to bomber-delivered munitions, enhancing operational survivability and response speed.
India’s move comes amid concerns about fortified enemy infrastructure in neighboring countries. Both Pakistan and China maintain deeply buried command centers and nuclear storage sites. The Agni-5’s new capability is seen as a direct response to these threats, giving India a credible means to neutralize critical underground assets in the event of conflict.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently lacks a strategic bomber capable of delivering ultra-heavy ordnance like the US B-2 or B-52. By adapting the Agni-5 ICBM for conventional bunker-busting roles, India addresses this gap and strengthens its long-range strike options.
