Emphasizing the growing participation of women in the scientific field, a significant number of female scientists played crucial roles in the achievements of Mission Divyastra, led by Programme Director Sheena Rani. Among them, senior scientist Sheena Rani has notably contributed to previous successful missile tests.
Dr. Shankari S, serving as the programme project director, also made significant contributions to the mission’s triumph, as per defense officials. A considerable cohort of female scientists dedicated their expertise to developing crucial technologies for the mission, particularly the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology for the Agni-5 missile.
Integral to the project’s success were female scientists such as Usha Verma, Neeraja, Vijay Lakshmi, and Venkatamani, all affiliated with the strategic missiles laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday the successful maiden flight test of the Agni-5 missile equipped with MIRV technology. This advancement enables the weapon system to deploy multiple nuclear warheads, targeting various sites spread across vast distances.
The Indian Agni-5 missile programme encompasses an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking any target within China or beyond, with a range exceeding 5,500 kilometres, based on perceived threats.
