The Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, was today
commissioned as Indian Naval Ship ‘Baaz’ by Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chairman
Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of the Naval Staff. INS Baaz is
situated at a distance of about 300 nm from Port Blair and is the southernmost air
station of the Indian armed forces.
Speaking on the occasion Admiral Nirmal Verma said that “the
archipelago, separated as it is by more than 650 nm from our mainland, offers a
vital geo-strategic advantage to India. Not only do they provide the Nation
with a commanding presence in the Bay of Bengal, the Islands also serve as our
window into East and South East Asia”. He added that “They also sit astride
some of the busiest shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, most carrying strategic
cargo for East Asian economies”.
Bringing out that the
Navy has been progressively increasing the number of warships based in the
Andaman and Nicobar Command, Admiral Nirmal Verma said Port Blair will be home to
amphibious platforms, Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft as
the Navy’s robust acquisition plans progress”. Emphasizing upon the strategic
location of INS Baaz Admiral Verma reminded those gathered that INS Baaz, overlooks the Strait of Malacca,
while also dominating the 6 degree channel”.
INS Baaz is currently
equipped to operate light to heavy aircraft capable of short field operations
from the runway of about 3500 feet. The runway will be progressively lengthened
to enable unrestricted operation of all category of aircraft including heavy
aircraft. The base will also be bolstered with modern airfield instruments and
navigation aids.
Congratulating the
Commanding Officer, Commander SK Singh Deo, Admiral Verma acknowledged the
contribution of the men in resolutely manning the remote island territories.
Admiral Verma said “the work undertaken by each one of you, allows optimum
exploitation of this strategic air station”. Talking about its Admiral Verma
said “One of the primary functions of INS Baaz will be to provide information,
based on ‘airborne’ maritime surveillance”. Admiral Verma added that airborne
surveillance using aircraft and UAVs remains invaluable to building Maritime
Domain Awareness.
The commissioning
ceremony was attended by Lt Gen Naresh Marwah, (CINCAN) Commander-in-Chief
Andaman and Nicobar Command and Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, (CISC) Chief of
Integrated Defense Staff to Chairman Chief of Staff Committee.
It may be recalled that
the Government of India had recently sanctioned numerous steps to fortify
infrastructure in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar chain of
Islands with forward operating bases in Kamorta (Nicobar Islands) and Diglipur
(Andaman) as well.
Pivoted around the Andaman and Nicobar Command, headquartered at Port
Blair, co-operative maritime engagement with South East Asian and East Asian
countries is also being constantly enhanced through initiatives like the MILAN
series of exercises, co-operative patrols with countries like Indonesia and
Thailand and other Navy-to-Navy linkages with ASEA countries as distant as
Vietnam.
PRESS RELEASE & PHOTOS: COURTESY: INDIAN NAVY
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