About Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island
- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, is located off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal.
- It is situated near Bhitarkanika National Park and falls under Bhadrak district of Odisha.
- The island is an important missile-testing facility of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It hosts the Integrated Test Range (ITR) missile testing facility, including Launch Complex-IV (LC-IV).
- The island was renamed in honour of former President and eminent scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on 4 September 2015. The renaming was formally notified in 2017.
Strategic Significance
- Missile Testing: Serves as a major launch site for testing India’s ballistic and other strategic missiles.
- DRDO Infrastructure: Hosts missile launch facilities, tracking systems and supporting infrastructure.
- Strategic Location: Its isolated offshore location provides a suitable environment for missile flight-testing over the sea.
- Defence Preparedness: Supports the development and evaluation of India’s indigenous missile capabilities.
Conclusion
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island is an important part of India’s indigenous defence research and missile-testing infrastructure. Its association with DRDO and India’s strategic missile programme makes it significant for national defence preparedness.
| This concept has been mentioned in the following article: DRDO Successfully Tests Quasi-Ballistic Missile ‘Pralay’ |