India Expands NOTAM Missile Test to Over 2,500 km in Bay of Bengal

India has issued an updated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a likely missile test from the Odisha coast, extending the designated danger zone far deeper into the Indian Ocean Region. The revised notification now covers a range of approximately 2,530 kilometers, a significant increase from the earlier announced 1,560 km.

The test window is scheduled for August 20–21, 2025, with operations expected to take place from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, India’s premier missile test facility. While the exact type of missile remains unconfirmed, defense analysts believe it could involve a long-range ballistic missile such as an Agni-series system or possibly a next-generation interceptor missile under development.

The extended range in the new notification suggests the trial could be aimed at validating enhanced range performance, testing advanced re-entry vehicles, or demonstrating new propulsion and guidance upgrades. Such a distance also places the danger zone well into the central stretches of the Bay of Bengal, signaling the test’s strategic significance.

The NOTAM serves as a safety measure, alerting both aviation and maritime traffic to avoid the designated area during the test window to prevent any risk to civilian aircraft or ships.

India’s long-range missile program has been a key component of its defense modernization and self-reliance drive, aligning with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. In recent years, the country has conducted a series of trials for systems like the Agni-V, which can reach over 5,000 km, and advanced interceptors for its Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) program.

Strategic experts view the upcoming test in the context of regional security challenges, particularly the evolving missile arsenals in China and Pakistan. Expanding the range of missile capabilities strengthens deterrence posture, provides greater second-strike assurance, and enhances India’s ability to project power across a wider geographical span.

If the test involves a new or upgraded missile, it could mark another milestone in India’s transition toward a fully indigenous long-range strike capability, further reducing dependence on foreign technology.

With the expanded NOTAM now in place, attention will be focused on the Bay of Bengal later this month, where the outcome of the trial could signal the next leap in India’s strategic missile capabilities.