India shuts down Andaman airspace for missile testing amid tension with Pakistan

Photo for representational purpose only.

Amid tensions with Pakistan, India has announced airspace closure over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located in Bay of Bengal for a possible missile test, an Indian Express report said on Friday. As per the official notification, Indian authorities have closed the airspace for today and tomorrow.

The Notice to Airmen or NOTAM was issued on May 16 last week. While officially, the event has been described as a ‘planned air activity,’ the IE report said that India is likely to test a missile or weapon system in the region. There are reports that a new version of BrahMos maybe tested. However, neither DRDO nor any other defence agency has issued a statement regarding the ‘air activity’ in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The IE report noted that on several previous occasions, India has issued NOTAMs for testing weapons. Add to this, the choice of the place for the airspace closure also indicates at a possible missile test. Earlier in January this year, India had successfully test-fired the supersonic BrahMos missile from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Before this, in March 2024, same region was used to test-fire a ballistic missile In 2022, the extended version of BrahMos was test-fired, the IE report added. The IE report further states that as per the NOTAM, affected altitudes mentioned are ground to unlimited. This means that no commercial passenger aircraft will be allowed in this period.