PROJECT VARSHA @ Rambilli, Visakhapatnam.: ------------------------------------------------------ India readies hi-tech naval base to keep eye on China. The Rambilli Naval base is Indias answer to Chinas underground nuclear submarine base at Sanya off Hainan Island. Indias new futuristic naval base is beginning to take concrete shape on the eastern seaboard. The strategic base, with an eye firmly on China, will eventually even have underground pens or bunkers to protect nuclear submarines both from spy satellites and enemy air attacks. Naval assets to protect Indias long coastline and keep watch over the crucial trade corridors in the Indian Ocean are essential to Indian interests. The strategic value of force projection beyond the Andaman islands is seen in terms of deterrence as well given the aggressive military Chinese expansion. Indias own SSBN programme is also poised to turn the corner soon with sea trials of the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant slated to begin off Visakhapatnam. INS Arihant and its three follow-on SSBNs, which will complete Indias elusive nuclear weapon triad since they will be armed with the `K series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, as well as other frontline warships will be housed at the new base. The Navy plans to operate at least three SSBNs and six SSNs in the long run for effective nuclear deterrence. Moreover, after inducting the 8,140-tonne INS Chakra submarine on a 10-year lease from Russia last year, India is now negotiating the lease of another such nuclear-powered Akula-II class submarine. Project Varshas ambitious scale in the years ahead will rival the expansive Project Seabird under which the Karwar naval base has come up in coastal Karnataka to give India both strategic depth and operational flexibility on the western seaboard against Pakistan. While Karwar will decongest the over-crowded Mumbai port, the new base will do the same for Vizag on the east. * Jai Hind *
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:13:37 +0000
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