India's Eastern Coast Gets a Boost in Missile Testing Capabilities

India's Eastern Coast Gets a Boost in Missile Testing Capabilities\n\nThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made significant strides in enhancing India's missile testing capabilities with the development of the Junput facility in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district. Located roughly 70–74 km from the existing Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha, this new site is designed to provide additional testing capacity along the eastern coast.\n\nA recent Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued for missile test activity over the Bay of Bengal from October 6 to October 9, 2026, with the notified area centred on the Junput facility. The NOTAM identifies the area as the “Junput DRDO Missile Testing Range” and specifies a defined danger area extending into the Bay of Bengal.\n\nThe Junput facility is being developed to complement the existing Chandipur range, which has been the primary testing location for India's missile-development and production programmes. However, with the expansion of these programmes, the need for additional testing infrastructure has become increasingly pressing.\n\nThe new facility is expected to provide greater scheduling flexibility and allow more trials to be conducted without concentrating all activity at a single coastal range. According to a senior DRDO official, integrating Junput with the existing Chandipur–Abdul Kalam Island corridor could provide roughly 150 km of sea-testing distance, compared with the approximately 74-km separation between Chandipur and Abdul Kalam Island.\n\nThis additional space could support trials involving interceptors, surface-to-air missiles, and other systems where longer engagement distances and greater separation between launch and target areas are required. The Junput facility is being developed partly to reduce the testing burden on the established Chandipur range.\n\nA 2024 parliamentary response from the Ministry of Defence stated that land acquisition and construction of roads and hard-standing had been completed, although work had subsequently been affected by local administrative issues. By September 2026, reports indicated that the project had received the necessary state-level approval and that construction and implementation activity had resumed.\n\nA senior DRDO official described Junput as an extension of the Chandipur-based testing infrastructure rather than a completely independent missile establishment. The new facility could be particularly useful for trials requiring a larger engagement envelope.\n\nThe development of the Junput facility is a significant step towards enhancing India's missile testing capabilities. With its additional testing capacity and integration with the existing Chandipur range, India is poised to support a wider range of trials and testing activities.\n\nAs the country continues to expand its missile-development and production programmes, the need for advanced testing infrastructure will only continue to grow. The Junput facility is an important addition to India's missile testing capabilities, and its development is a testament to the country's commitment to advancing its defence technologies.