Recent months have seen India step up testing of its strategic missile inventory. (Representative Photo: PTI)

India issues NOTAM for long-range missile test in Bay of Bengal

The timing is notable. The test window overlaps with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, conducted in early May 2025.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Test corridor matches Agni-IV missile range of 3,500–4,000 km
  • Agni-IV is key to India’s nuclear triad and strategic deterrence
  • Test coincides with first anniversary of Operation Sindoor

India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) designating a vast stretch of the Bay of Bengal as a danger zone for a long-range missile test, with the warning active from April 25 to May 6, 2026. The NOTAM covers a corridor extending up to approximately 3,550 km, signaling preparations for an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launch.

Defence sources told India Today that it indicates the flight path and exclusion zone align with the performance envelope of the Agni-IV, an IRBM with a reported range of 3,500–4,000 km. The Agni-IV is a two-stage, solid-fuelled missile capable of carrying a 1,000-kg warhead and is a key component of India’s nuclear triad and strategic deterrence posture.

The timing is notable. The test window overlaps with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, conducted in early May 2025. While the Ministry of Defence has not officially linked the test to the anniversary, strategic analysts suggest the launch would serve both as a validation exercise and as a message of readiness and capability enhancement.

Recent months have seen India step up testing of its strategic missile inventory. The Agni series, along with the submarine-launched K-4 and the hypersonic LRAShM, form the backbone of India’s credible minimum deterrence doctrine.

The extended-range BrahMos cruise missile, with tests underway to push its reach to 800 km, and this potential Agni-IV trial point to a broader modernization drive across both tactical and strategic vectors. Induction of the 800-km BrahMos is expected by end-2027.

A NOTAM is issued when authorities need to restrict civilian aircraft from a specific stretch of airspace, usually during sensitive or high-risk operations. Such advisories have been used in the past during periods of heightened military tension, including conflict with Pakistan, to keep commercial flights away from operational zones.

When a NOTAM is active, civilian aviation is not allowed to enter the designated airspace. This enables military aircraft, missiles and drones to operate without interference or the risk of mid-air incidents. It also serves as a safety measure, ensuring that non-combat aircraft remain clear of areas where military activity is underway.

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