DRDO Advances Missile Test Range in West Bengal’s Junput

JUNPUT, WEST BENGAL — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is advancing plans to establish a strategic missile and weapons testing range at Junput in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, officials confirmed in September 2026. Spanning approximately 8.73 acres along the Bay of Bengal coastline, the new facility sits roughly 70 kilometers from the established Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha. Originally floated by federal defense planners in April 2024 and cleared environmentally, the project cleared final state-level administrative hurdles following renewed clearance coordination, providing India's eastern military testing network with a crucial auxiliary launch corridor.

Relieving Chandipur’s Testing Bottleneck

India’s primary missile evaluation network currently relies heavily on ITR Odisha, operating Launch Complex-III at Chandipur-on-Sea (dedicated to short-range tactical missiles, surface-to-air systems like Akash, and multi-barrel rocket launchers like Pinaka) and Launch Complex-IV on Abdul Kalam Island (reserved for strategic long-range systems like Agni and K-series submarine-launched missiles).

According to senior defense sources, surging national development cadence for indigenous tactical and coastal defense systems created scheduling congestion at Chandipur. The Junput coastal facility is architected to absorb short-range missile evaluations, specialized radar tracking calibrations, and marine-linked technology validation trials. The site provides an unobstructed eastward trajectory over international maritime zones, mirroring the safety and telemetry tracking profiles established further down the coast.

Administrative Clearance and Regional Footprint

The Junput initiative overcame prior institutional friction recorded through 2024, when initial Ministry of Defence land acquisition approaches awaited administrative alignment. State leadership confirmed formal greenlighting for the 8.73-acre parcel, citing strategic economic integration and localized infrastructure multiplier effects for the Purba Medinipur belt.

Civil engineering parameters at the Junput site leverage completed arterial road access and environmental clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Standard range safety protocols mirror Chandipur operating standards, requiring temporary maritime advisory notices and controlled coastal perimeter clearing during live-fire technical sorties.

Strategic Impact on Defense Manufacturing and Trials

For domestic private- and public-sector defense manufacturers supplying tactical guided munitions and radar suites, the addition of a second eastern mainland testing range compresses validation queue times. Rather than waiting for complex multi-agency launch windows at Chandipur, developers gain a dedicated regional waypoint for early-stage flight hardening.

Economically, regional administrative stakeholders project ancillary logistics, telemetry station maintenance employment, and specialized security contractor engagement for the coastal Purba Medinipur zone, positioning West Bengal directly into the national defense aerospace testing corridor.

Official Sources Section

Project status verified via official statements from senior DRDO leadership sources, state administrative clearance records from West Bengal authorities, and environmental/coastal regulatory filings with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Quote Section

According to official state administration disclosures regarding the defense initiative, "the clearance enables strategic infrastructure integration for national aerospace testing, providing vital supplementary launch-corridor capacity along the eastern maritime board."

Why It Matters

Expanding test-range density prevents testing backlogs for indigenous missile programs (such as anti-air, tactical surface, and naval counter-systems). For India’s military-industrial complex, multi-site east coast redundancy ensures accelerated deployment timelines from prototype to service induction.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Executing Agency: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

• Site Location: Junput coastal village, Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.

• Footprint Area: ~8.73 acres along the Bay of Bengal.

• Proximity to Chandipur: ~70 kilometers northwest along the coast.

• Primary Scope: Short-range missile trials, coastal radar validation, overflow load-sharing from ITR.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary purpose of the Junput DRDO facility?

It serves as an auxiliary testing corridor to absorb short-range missile, radar, and coastal defense technology trials, relieving operational pressure on Odisha's Chandipur ITR.

How close is Junput to the existing Chandipur test range?

The Junput site lies approximately 70 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal coast from Chandipur.

What missile systems will be tested at Junput?

While specific classified systems are restricted, the range targets short-range tactical ordnance, surface-to-air platforms, and radar tracking validation rather than intercontinental strategic assets.

Source: DRDO senior official briefings; West Bengal state administrative clearance notifications; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change environmental compliance records.