Meet ‘Divya Putri,’ the Scientist Behind the Agni-5 Missile’s Multiple Warheads

India conducted a successful test of the Agni-5 missile with multiple warheads, a significant achievement announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Mission Divyastra.’ Leading the project was Sheena Rani, a woman scientist from Hyderabad’s missile complex, who has been involved with the Agni missile systems since 1999.

Rani’s accomplishment has earned her the title of ‘Divya Putri,’ marking her twenty-fifth year at India’s defense research agency. Expressing pride in her work, she stated, “I am a proud member of the DRDO fraternity that helps protect India.”

Following in the footsteps of India’s renowned missile technologist ‘Agni Putri’ Tessy Thomas, Rani’s work on the Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology is considered a crowning achievement.

At 57 years old, Rani is described as a ‘powerhouse of energy’ and works as a scientist at the Advanced Systems Laboratory of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad. She holds a degree in electronics and communications engineering with expertise in computer science from the College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram.

Inspired by India’s ‘Missile Man’ Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Rani joined the DRDO after working at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) for eight years. She has been instrumental in developing the launch control systems for the entire Agni series of missiles since 1999.

Her husband, PSRS Sastry, also a DRDO scientist, was in charge of the Kautilya Satellite launched by ISRO in 2019 for gathering electronic intelligence.

The recent test of the Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology, named ‘Mission Divyastra,’ was conducted at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Prime Minister Modi praised the DRDO scientists for their efforts in achieving the mission’s objectives.

The MIRV technology on the Agni-5 missile allows for multiple warheads to be deployed, capable of hitting targets at different locations simultaneously. This technology enhances India’s strategic capabilities and makes it the sixth country in the world to possess MIRV-capable missiles.

The new weapon system, equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages, ensures that re-entry vehicles accurately reach their target points. This capability significantly enhances India’s deterrence posture and strategic flexibility.