India Announces Significant Missile Test in Bay of Bengal Off Odisha Coast with August 20-21 NOTAM
India has announced a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) covering a 4,790 km area in the Bay of Bengal for a planned missile test on August 20 and 21, 2025. This announcement temporarily limits air and maritime traffic in the specified zone to ensure safety during the launch period.
The test is slated to take place from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) located on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island near the Odisha coast, which is central to India's strategic missile testing operations. Although the specific missile involved in this test has not been revealed, the range detailed in the NOTAM suggests it may involve a variant of the Agni V MK2 missile or potentially a new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) platform.
In the past year, similar NOTAM notices from the Odisha region have aligned with both offensive ballistic missile tests and interceptor trials under India's missile defense initiatives. These tests, managed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), are part of regular checks and validations to ensure the operational readiness of India's strategic deterrence capabilities.
The Bay of Bengal's proximity to the ITR makes it a vital area for testing India's missile capabilities, which include nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, precision-guided tactical weapons, and experimental hypersonic technologies. Defense analysts emphasize that such trials are essential for maintaining India's missile forces at high readiness levels in light of changing regional security dynamics.
A successful trial would bolster India's long-range precision strike capabilities, which are crucial components of its deterrence strategy against potential threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
