Does Iran have military technology like US, Russia? What is MIRV technology that has left Israel scared?

The Israeli army has claimed that it has recovered several Iranian missiles that did not explode. One of these was loaded with a cluster bomb warhead and had been fired from central Iran. Thankfully, all the warheads were found intact, which means they didn’t cause any damage.

Now, Israel is trying to find out whether Iran has started using MIRV technology in its missiles. MIRV stands for Multiple Independently-Targetable Reentry Vehicle. It is a very advanced missile system that only a few countries in the world have—like the U.S., Russia, China, India, France, Israel, and the U.K.

How MIRVs changed the rules of war

MIRV technology (Multiple Independently-Targetable Reentry Vehicles) changed how missile warfare works. It first appeared in the early 1970s on the U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. Soon after, the Soviet Union also developed its own MIRV-equipped missiles.

This technology brought a big shift in nuclear strategy. Why? Because it forced missile defense systems to do more work. If one missile carries five warheads, the enemy must launch five interceptors—one for each warhead—or take the risk of getting hit. That makes defending against such missiles very expensive and technically difficult.

So instead of stopping just one missile, now you need to stop multiple warheads coming from that single missile—all heading to different targets. This made nuclear deterrence even stronger and missile defense less reliable.

Which countries have MIRV technology?

Only a few of the world’s most advanced nuclear powers have confirmed MIRV systems:

  • United States
  • Russia
  • China
  • France
  • United Kingdom

These countries have deployed MIRVs on land-based missiles and submarine-launched missiles.

India has also tested MIRV technology with its Agni-V missile, and is moving toward full deployment.
Pakistan and North Korea have claimed MIRV testing, but experts say there’s not enough proof yet that they actually have working systems with independently targeted warheads.

As of now, no other country is known to have operational MIRVs. That’s why MIRV capability is seen as a sign of a fully developed and powerful nuclear force.

News