India’s missile defense capabilities, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has given its approval for the establishment of a new missile testing range in Nagayalanka, located in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. This project, spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is seen as a crucial component of India’s long-term strategy to enhance its ballistic missile defense (BMD) capabilities, especially as the nation transitions to Phase 2 of its ambitious BMD program.
However, the development of the missile testing facility has faced several hurdles, involving environmental, legal, and bureaucratic challenges, which have delayed its initiation by almost a decade.
The DRDO first conceived plans for a missile testing range in Nagayalanka in 2013. However, its location within the limits of the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, an ecologically sensitive zone, created significant complications. The proposed site, a critical habitat for a variety of species, raised concerns among environmentalists and wildlife conservation groups. Specifically, the project involved converting 155 hectares of mangrove forest in Machilipatnam into a launch testing facility.
After careful consideration, the petroleum ministry granted clearance for the missile range in 2012, following assurances that the project would not disrupt ongoing oil and gas exploration activities in the Krishna River Delta. Yet, this was only one of many regulatory hurdles.
The environment ministry also approved the project, but it was immediately challenged in the Supreme Court by environmental activists. Despite the legal opposition, the Court ultimately upheld the government’s decision, clearing the way for DRDO to proceed with the project. These obstacles delayed the start of construction for nearly a decade, but the CCS’s recent approval marks a turning point in the long-awaited project.
Once operational, the Nagayalanka range will serve as a vital testing site for both short- and long-range missile systems. However, the primary objective of the facility will be to support tests for missiles developed under India’s Phase 2 Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, which aims to provide a robust shield against advanced ballistic missile threats.
India’s BMD program has been developed in response to growing security concerns, particularly from neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. Phase 1 of the program, which is already operational, is designed to intercept missiles with ranges under 2,000 kilometers. This phase provides a defense against threats like Pakistan’s Ghauri and Shaheen missiles and China’s Dongfeng-21 (CSS-5) medium-range ballistic missiles.
In contrast, Phase 2 aims to defend against missiles with ranges greater than 2,000 kilometers, including those capable of deploying decoys or evasive maneuvers to evade detection. To achieve this, Phase 2 will require new, more advanced technologies, including longer-range radars and more sophisticated interceptors.
India’s current missile testing infrastructure, which includes ranges at Chandipur and Wheeler Island, is insufficient for Phase 2 of the BMD program. Both existing ranges are geographically limited and unable to support the testing of longer-range interceptors. Specifically, DRDO requires two ranges located far apart to conduct proper tests of the advanced interceptors needed for Phase 2.
The Nagayalanka range, along with another planned missile testing range at Rutland Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will address this issue by providing the necessary geographical separation and infrastructure to test the new systems.
India’s Ballistic Missile Defense Phase 2 is a significant upgrade from Phase 1, both in terms of technology and capability. One of the key components of Phase 2 is the introduction of the Swordfish Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR), an indigenously developed L-band radar based on the Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine system. This radar, capable of detecting targets at ranges of up to 1,500 kilometers, represents a significant improvement over the Phase 1 radars, which had a maximum detection range of 600 kilometers.
The development of new interceptor missiles is also a critical component of Phase 2. Two new missile variants, the AD-1 and AD-2, are currently under development. These interceptors are designed to target missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that travel at extremely high speeds (up to 9 km/s) during their final approach. The ability to intercept such missiles requires unprecedented precision and agility, which the AD-1 and AD-2 are designed to deliver.
The AD-1, in particular, is a long-range interceptor capable of both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception, meaning it can engage targets within the Earth’s atmosphere as well as just outside it. Propelled by a two-stage solid rocket motor, the missile features an advanced control system and navigation algorithm, developed in India, to guide it with extreme precision toward its target.
In a landmark test on November 2, 2022, DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight of the AD-1 interceptor at Abdul Kalam Island. The test demonstrated the interceptor’s ability to engage targets at varying altitudes and validated the operational integration of BMD system components across multiple locations. Follow-up tests in July 2023, which included the launch of a target missile, further demonstrated the capabilities of the AD-1 interceptor and the overall Phase 2 missile defense system.
As part of its Phase 2 upgrades, DRDO is also developing a floating test range (FTR) to complement the land-based missile ranges. First reported by The Hindu in 2015, this floating range will be a 10,000-ton ship designed to launch target missiles for testing interceptors. According to DRDO scientists, the FTR will enable the testing of missiles at ranges up to 1,500 kilometers and across a variety of trajectories and altitudes.
Another significant asset to the BMD program is the Indian Navy’s Ocean Surveillance Ships (OSS), which will play a key role in missile defense by tracking and monitoring missile tests. The first OSS, INS Dhruv, was commissioned in September 2021 and is equipped with a state-of-the-art active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by DRDO. This radar will allow the ship to detect and monitor missile launches over a wide area, providing crucial data for the BMD program. A second OSS is currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard.
Despite the strategic importance of the Nagayalanka missile range, the project has drawn criticism from environmentalists and local communities concerned about its impact on the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The conversion of 155 hectares of mangrove forest for the facility is particularly controversial, given the critical role mangroves play in maintaining coastal ecosystems and protecting against erosion.
However, DRDO has promised to take measures to mitigate the environmental impact of the project, including the creation of compensatory green spaces and efforts to protect the remaining mangrove areas. Moreover, officials argue that the long-term security benefits of the missile range far outweigh the environmental costs, particularly in light of India’s evolving strategic needs.
The establishment of the Nagayalanka missile testing range represents a crucial step forward for India’s defense capabilities. As the nation prepares to enter Phase 2 of its Ballistic Missile Defense program, this new facility will enable the testing and development of advanced interceptor missiles capable of defending against a wide range of threats, including long-range ballistic missiles.
Though the project has faced significant challenges—ranging from environmental concerns to legal battles—the recent approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security signals the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s missile defense infrastructure. With the new range, along with complementary facilities such as the Rutland Island range and the Floating Test Range, India is well on its way to establishing a comprehensive missile defense shield capable of protecting the country from even the most advanced missile threats.
