India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) covering a 4,790 km stretch in the Bay of Bengal for a missile test scheduled between August 20 and 21, 2025. The warning temporarily restricts air and maritime traffic in the designated zone to ensure safety during the launch window.
The test is expected to be conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, a hub for India’s strategic missile trials. While the specific missile type has not been disclosed, the range indicated in the NOTAM points to involve an variant of the Agni V MK2 or missle, or a completely new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) strategic platform.
Over the past year, similar NOTAM alerts from the Odisha coast have coincided with both offensive ballistic missile tests and interceptor trials under India’s missile defence programme. These activities, overseen by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), form part of routine validation and operational readiness checks for India’s strategic deterrent.
The Bay of Bengal’s proximity to the ITR makes it a crucial testing ground for India’s missile arsenal, which spans nuclear-capable ballistic systems, precision-guided tactical weapons, and experimental hypersonic platforms. Defence experts note that such tests are vital for keeping India’s missile forces at peak readiness amid evolving regional security challenges.
If successful, the upcoming trial will further reinforce India’s capabilities in long-range precision strikes, a key element of its deterrence posture against potential adversaries in the Indo-Pacific region.
