India’s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing two new variants of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, one of which will have the capability to carry 7500 kg bunker buster warhead, heavier than the GBU-57, over a range of more than 2500 kilometres.
In a major development post Operation Sindoor which is likely to send shivers down the spine of New Delhi’s rivals like Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, India is preparing to build heavy buster bombs akin to the US-made GBU-57s which recently annihilated nuclear sites inside Iran.
Who is building India’s bunker buster bombs?
According to media reports, India’s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing two new variants of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, one of which will have the capability to carry 7500 kg bunker buster warhead, heavier than the GBU-57, over a range of more than 2500 kilometres.
The bunker buster, will have the capability to penetrate up to a depth of 80-100 meters, and is being designed to destroy heavily fortified enemy military structures like nuclear facilities, arsenals, radar stations, control centers, and deep underground bunkers. Older versions of the Agni-5 can carry nuclear or conventional warheads up to a longer distance of 5,000 kilometers, but the new variants can also carry bunker buster bombs weighing 7500 kg, albeit at half the range of 2500 km.
As per details, one the new Agni V missiles will have the capability to carry an airburst warhead for above-ground targets, while other is designed to carry a ground penetrating heavy bunker buster warhead, akin to the US’ 30,000 pound GBU-57.
Why indigenous bunker buster could be a gamechanger for India?
Post Operation Sindoor, India has focused development on building indigenous bunker-busting missiles, especially after witnessing the devastation caused by the US’ GBU-57s on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this month.
In case of a war, the bunker buster missiles could be used to target fortified underground bases built by Pakistan and China on their respective borders, which would significantly impact the enemy’s military strength in such a scenario.
Pakistan and China have built strong underground bases on their borders. This missile will play a big role in mountainous regions and high altitudes. It will destroy enemy command centers and weapon depots near the border.
How powerful is US’ GBU-57 bunker buster?
Earlier this month, the United States decimated Iranian nuclear sites as they used the B-2 stealth bombers to drop the massive 30,000lbs (13.6 tonne) GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP), aka the bunker buster bombs, on Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow nuclear facilities, which purportedly “completely obliterated” these locations, according to US President Donald Trump.
According to the US military, the GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP), dubbed the ‘bunker buster’, took as many as 15 years to develop, and was specifically designed to destroy deep underground facilities like Iran’s Fordow Enrichment Plant, after the US found out about the site in 2009.
