West Bengal to Host New DRDO Missile Testing Facility

West Bengal has given the green light for a new missile testing and evaluation facility operated by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Junput, marking a significant addition to the country's defence infrastructure in the eastern region.

The facility will be constructed on 8.73 acres of land along the Bay of Bengal coastline, providing dedicated space for conducting trials of short-range missiles and radar systems. Officials said the new centre will help distribute testing operations currently concentrated at the Chandipur facility in Odisha, thereby reducing operational bottlenecks.

The coastal location has been identified as strategically suitable for missile testing activities, with the bay providing adequate range and safety parameters for conducting such trials. The facility is expected to enhance DRDO's capacity to accelerate development and validation cycles for emerging defence systems.

The project aligns with the government's broader push to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign military technology. Once operational, the Junput centre will support DRDO's ongoing programmes in missile systems and sensor technologies essential for India's defence modernisation.