What are the Provisions for Testing Missiles? – UPSC Prelims

Under the pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles agreement signed in 2005, each country must provide the other an advance notification on the flight test it intends to take for any land or sea launched, surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

Before the test, the country must issue Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) or Navigational Warning (NAVAREA) to alert aviation pilots and seafarers, respectively.

Testing country must ensure that the launch site is not within 40 km, and the planned impact area is not within 75 km of either the International Boundary (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC).

The planned trajectory should not cross the IB or the LoC and must maintain a horizontal distance of at least 40 km from the border.

The testing country must notify the other nation “no less than three days in advance of the commencement of a five day launch window within which it intends to undertake flight tests of any land or sea launched, surface-to-surface ballistic missile”.

The pre-notification has to be “conveyed through the respective Foreign Offices and the High Commissions”.

Why in News? India misfires a missile into Pakistan territory.

A NOTAM is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations but not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.

The World Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) was established in 1977 for the promulgation of information on worldwide hazards to navigation for international shipping.

Navigational warnings provide early information of important incidents which may constitute a danger to navigation.

Many navigational warnings are of a temporary nature, but others remain in force for several weeks and may be succeeded by Notice to Mariners (NMs).