The Indian Navy will also hold its commanders’ conference on board the twin aircraft carriers, including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. (Representational Image/ANI)
“This would also give us a strong foothold in the area to keep an eye on the military and commercial activities of adversaries in the area, as this is around 50 miles from the islands of the Maldives,” an official said
The Indian Navy is all set to commission a new base, INS Jatayu in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep, in a move to strengthen its position in the Indian Ocean.
“This would also give us a strong foothold in the area to keep an eye on the military and commercial activities of adversaries in the area, as this is around 50 miles from the islands of the Maldives,” an official said.
The Navy will also formally induct its aerial marvel, the MH 60R helicopter into its fleet next week, bolstering its Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter at the INS Garuda here on March 6, Navy officials were quoted by PTI as saying.
“With this MH 60R, we have filled a major gap in our anti-submarine warfare capability. The anti-submarine capability and the sustenance of the chopper will change the way we are doing our surveillance and it will give us a larger surveillance bubble,” Captain M Abhishek Ram told PTI.
Quoting Defence officials, an ANI report said that the Indian Navy will also hold its commanders’ conference on board the twin aircraft carriers, including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, where they will be undertaking high-tempo operations like taking off from one carrier and landing at the other, along with participation from other warships and submarines in the carrier battle groups.
