India Overtakes Pakistan in Nuclear Warheads for First Time, Deploys Next-Gen Agni Missiles with MIRV Capabilities — SIPRI

Defence affairs - D.S.A

India has overtaken Pakistan in the number of operational nuclear warheads, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), marking a significant shift in South Asia’s strategic balance.

As of January 2025, SIPRI estimates that India possesses approximately 180 nuclear warheads—an increase from 172 the previous year—compared to Pakistan’s steady arsenal of 170 nuclear warheads.

The figures place India slightly ahead of its nuclear-armed rival for the first time in recent years, signalling New Delhi’s ongoing investments in next-generation delivery platforms and strategic deterrence capabilities.

SIPRI’s annual yearbook further highlighted India’s development of new “canisterised” missile systems, which allow nuclear warheads to be pre-mounted and stored securely during peacetime, thus enabling faster response times and improving operational readiness.

These systems, notably the Agni Prime (Agni-P) and the MIRV-capable Agni-5, are believed to be capable of eventually carrying multiple warheads on a single missile—technologies typically associated with more advanced nuclear powers such as the United States, Russia, and China.

“India is believed to have once again slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems,” the SIPRI report stated.

“India’s new ‘canisterized’ missiles, which can be transported with mated warheads, may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads during peacetime, and possibly even multiple warheads on each missile, once they become operational,” it added.

The Agni Prime, also known as Agni-P, is a new-generation medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), intended to replace older Agni-I and Agni-II systems with a more mobile, survivable, and precision-capable platform.

Capable of striking targets at ranges between 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers, the Agni-P is equipped with composite motor casings, improved guidance systems, and advanced propulsion, making it significantly lighter and more maneuverable than its predecessors.

A key feature of the Agni-P is its “canisterised” launch system, which allows the missile to be stored and transported in a sealed, ready-to-launch container, greatly reducing launch preparation time and increasing survivability during peacetime and conflict scenarios.

While the Agni-P reinforces India’s tactical and regional deterrence, the Agni-5 represents a strategic leap forward in long-range strike capability and survivability against modern missile defence systems.