SOURCE: AFI
India has announced experimental flight trials scheduled to take place off the east coast near Balasore, Odisha, prompting a navigational warning for mariners in the region. The trials are set to occur over three days, from March 27 to March 29, 2025, during specific time windows: 0430-0630 UTC and 0900-1100 UTC each day. The designated danger area spans coordinates from 21°14.92’N 086°48.63’E to 21°35.58’N 087°10.70’E, as detailed in nautical charts 31, 351, 7706, and INT 756.
The warning, issued to ensure the safety of maritime traffic, advises all mariners to keep clear of the specified zone during the scheduled periods. The area, located off India’s eastern seaboard in the Bay of Bengal, is a known testing ground for various defense and aerospace activities, including missile launches and flight experiments conducted by organizations such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). While the exact nature of these “experimental flight trials” has not been officially disclosed, such exercises typically involve advanced aerial systems, drones, or missile technologies under controlled conditions.
Balasore’s coastal region has long served as a strategic hub for India’s defense testing programs, owing to its proximity to the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. The site’s expansive maritime range and relatively low-traffic waters make it ideal for conducting high-altitude and long-range trials without disrupting civilian activities. Mariners operating in the Bay of Bengal, including fishing vessels, cargo ships, and other maritime traffic, are urged to plan their routes accordingly to avoid the danger zone during the specified hours.
The timing of the trials—early morning and mid-morning UTC slots—suggests a focus on optimal weather and visibility conditions, common for precision testing. The warning aligns with India’s growing emphasis on indigenous defense capabilities, with recent years seeing an uptick in trials for systems like the BrahMos missile, Agni series, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Whether this particular exercise involves a new prototype or an iteration of an existing platform remains a matter of speculation, but its announcement underscores India’s active pursuit of technological advancement in aerospace and defense.
For the maritime community, adherence to the advisory is critical. The danger area, roughly encompassing a rectangular zone off the Odisha coast, will be temporarily off-limits, with potential risks ranging from debris to unintended deviations of test objects. Mariners are encouraged to consult the referenced nautical charts and adjust their schedules to steer clear of the region between March 27 and March 29, 2025.
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