India is ramping up its defence preparedness as DRDO and HAL gear up to deliver the Tejas MK-1A to the Air Force.
New Delhi has issued a 3,550-km Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) over the Bay of Bengal, turning the area into a no-fly zone from Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Aircraft and ships have been barred from entering the area during this period. So, a major test or launch looming on the horizon?
Given the scale of the restriction, defence experts are speculating about a possible Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) test, with some linking it to the much-anticipated Agni-6, per a News 18 report.
What is the Agni missile?
The Agni-5, India’s longest-tested missile, with a range of over 5,000 kilometres. The series ranges from Agni-I (700 km) to Agni-V (over 5,000 km)
India plans to take its strategic deterrence to the next stage by testing a long-range missile from October 15 to 17 above the Bay of Bengal.
While the government has not officially confirmed the missile type, experts suggest it could belong to the Agni series, while NOTAM points to either an enhanced version of Agni-V or the under-development Agni-VI.
News 18 cited defence experts monitoring the test's progress who claimed it could demonstrate the country's long-range strike capabilities.
Interestingly, the NOTAM zone has been revised three times in the past 72 hours, from 1,480 km on October 6, to 2,520 km the next day, and now 3,550 km.
