India Extends No-Fly Zone For Likely Missile Test
“India’s notification for a likely long-range missile test now extends further into the Indian Ocean Region, with a danger zone of around 4,790 km,” said a satellite imagery expert whose Twitter handle is @detresfa.
New Delhi: India has extended its no-flying zone in the Indian Ocean for August 20-21 to around 4,790 km.
The move has sparked speculation that India may be preparing for a long-range missile test.
Earlier, India had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for August 20-21 in the Indian Ocean Region with a range of 1,560 km, which was then extended to 2,530 km. The NOTAM area stretches from the Odisha coast deep into the Indian Ocean.
“India’s notification for a likely long-range missile test now extends further into the Indian Ocean Region, with a danger zone of around 4,790 km,” said a satellite imagery expert whose Twitter handle is @detresfa.
Last year, India tested the intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-5, which has a range of over 5,000 km.
The latest development comes as India continues a series of missile tests to enhance its missile capabilities.
Significantly, Pakistan has announced the creation of a new force within its military to oversee missile combat capabilities in a conventional conflict, apparently in an attempt to match India. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of the Army Rocket Force late Wednesday at a ceremony in Islamabad.
Last month, India carried out multiple missile tests. On July 28 and 29, it conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of the Pralay missile, capable of carrying conventional warheads, from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
The Strategic Forces Command, which is responsible for the country’s nuclear weapons, also successfully test-fired the short-range ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
In July, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a new missile that can be launched from a drone, giving India the capability to accurately strike targets deep inside hostile territory.
The DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) also conducted a flight test of the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) ‘Astra,’ equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, from a Su-30 Mk-I fighter aircraft off the Odisha coast.
