India gets hawk eye over Strait of Malacca

[Asskicker]

New Delhi: India will on Tuesday formally open a key naval station, aptly named INS Baaz (Hawk), in the southern part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands that will boost its ability to keep an eagle eye on the critical maritime choke-point: the Strait of Malacca.

With navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma declaring the base open, the nation's southeastern-most fringe, which is closer to Indonesia than the Indian mainland, India will gain strategic supremacy in the area, an Indian Navy officer said in New Delhi.

The new base, which will also include an upgraded air base, will soon be operating heavier military planes from the Indian Air Force fleet like the just-inducted Hercules C-130J Super Hercules meant for special forces' operations.

Campbell Bay straddles a strategically key location in the Indian Ocean/Bay of Bengal overlooking the mouth of the Strait of Malacca, from across Aceh in Indonesia. With this, the Indian military will be sitting pretty at a location from where it can kickstart operations if maritime activities in the region are threatened.

Once a piracy-affected region, Indian and Indonesian navies continue to monitor it for criminal activities by jointly patrolling their maritime borders.

India's move comes even as the US has spelt out its future military strategy to focus on the Asia-Pacific by "re-balancing" its force levels from the Atlantic.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had said at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last month - and in New Delhi earlier - that the US will base at least 60 per cent of its naval assets in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Strait of Malacca acts as a key link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, connecting East Asia, Australia and the US with Asia and Africa.

At least a quarter of the world's trade - and more importantly, at least 80 per cent of China's oil requirements - passes through the Strait of Malacca.

India already operates naval bases at Port Blair and Car Nicobar in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands chain.

It also has at least three air strips at Diglipur in the north Andamans, Port Blair and Car Nicobar.

The new base will significantly increase India's strategic reach in the region, considering that Campbell Bay is about 300 nautical miles south of Car Nicobar, till now the navy's major forward operating base in the area.


Link:India gets hawk eye over Strait of Malacca | NDTV.com

 

[Raje amar]

can anybody tell me what is the force level expected at this base?

we already have placed MIK's at A & N, do they plan to operate P8I or AWACk from this location?

 

[shuntmaster]

India can completely choke the shipping traffic through Malacca straights, which accounts to almost 40% of worlds shipping. The Andaman and Nicobar island chain literally acts as a gate for the Malacca straights to enter Bay of Bengal. These islands are like unsinkable aircraft carriers sitting at the mouth of the Malcca straights.
If China feels it can control the shipping traffic between Pacific ocean and Indian ocean by controlling the South-China sea area, they are in for a big surprise. 80% of China's oil imports flows through the Malacca straights.

 

[Asskicker]

India can completely choke the shipping traffic through Malacca straights, which accounts to almost 40% of worlds shipping. The Andaman and Nicobar island chain literally acts as a gate for the Malacca straights to enter Bay of Bengal. These islands are like unsinkable aircraft carriers sitting at the mouth of the Malcca straights.
If China feels it can control the shipping traffic between Pacific ocean and Indian ocean by controlling the South-China sea area, they are in for a big surprise. 80% of China's oil imports flows through the Malacca straights.

Thats the reason they are looking for alternate routes like gwadar and also trying to increase their presence in IOR.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

India can completely choke the shipping traffic through Malacca straights, which accounts to almost 40% of worlds shipping. The Andaman and Nicobar island chain literally acts as a gate for the Malacca straights to enter Bay of Bengal. These islands are like unsinkable aircraft carriers sitting at the mouth of the Malcca straights.
If China feels it can control the shipping traffic between Pacific ocean and Indian ocean by controlling the South-China sea area, they are in for a big surprise. 80% of China's oil imports flows through the Malacca straights.

We need more subs and P8I's along A&N islands.... Not to deter china, but to monitor potential threat to Indian interest whether it is china or US. Indonesia can fall into china camp any time, with chinese money. We need to analyse situation where indonesia goes into chinese camp.

Thats the reason they are looking for alternate routes like gwadar and also trying to increase their presence in IOR.

We can counter that in Iran....crucial to take iran into confidence.

 

[Asskicker]

We need more subs and P8I's along A&N islands.... Not to deter china, but to monitor potential threat to Indian interest whether it is china or US. Indonesia can fall into china camp any time, with chinese money. We need to analyse situation where indonesia goes into chinese camp.



We can counter that in Iran....crucial to take iran into confidence.

But still we cant count on iran in that issue

 

[shuntmaster]

Thats the reason they are looking for alternate routes like gwadar and also trying to increase their presence in IOR.

The route via Gwadar and Karokaram is only promoted by the Pakistani fanboys. It is almost infeasible for China to depend on this route. Also, its very economically unviable. Just imagine the logistics involved. Load ship in middle-east, unload in Gwadar port. Load onto trucks in Gwadar, truck it all the way across Pakistan from the south-west coast to North-east China-Pakistan border in Gilgit-baltistan area. Then transport it overland, all the way across china for thousands of Kilometres over some of the most desolate, remote and inhospitable regions to reach the final destination in Eastern or south-eastern china. In spite all these, India's hold over this route also exists and its more vulnerable for Indian blockade than the sea route. The passage through high and rugged mountains in Gilgit-Baltistan region is very close to the LoC. The Bofors guns on Siachen Glacier can easily take out the Karokaram Highway. Also, the climate there is very harsh making the route unpassable for a major part of the year.
On the other hand, for the sea route, load the crude oil super tanker in some port of middle-east, ship it through Arabian sea, bay of Bengal, Malacca straight, South China sea and unload at their final destination in Shanghai/HK/Xiamen, QingDao/Ningbo/Tianjin/Dalian. This relatively more economically, faster and safer & secure, as long as China doesn't antagonise too many of the countries along this route.

 

[Sergi]

Good news

 

[arp2041]

INS Baaz, the Indian Navy's air station in the Andaman Islands

ADDRESS BY ADMIRAL NIRMAL VERMA, CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF, ON THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF INS BAAZ (NAS CAMPBELL BAY)


General NC Marwah, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command, Senior Officers from the three Services, distinguished guests, the Commanding Officer and men of Naval Air Station Campbell Bay, ladies and gentlemen.

It is indeed a pleasure for me to be present here today to commission the Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay – INS Baaz. Each time I visit these beautiful islands, I reflect upon the sacred duty that we, the men and women in uniform, have towards ensuring the nation’s territorial integrity, and towards providing security, support and safety to the people of our great nation. Your presence here in this eastern most outpost of India is a testament of the resolve of the Indian Armed Forces.

The islands of the Andaman and Nicobar group have always occupied the consciousness of the security and defence community of our nation. The geographic disposition of the archipelago, separated as it is by more than 650 nautical miles 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. India’s Look East policy has certainly benefited due to the proximity of this archipelago to many ASEAN states.

Apart from geography, the economic potential of the islands is also remarkable, being endowed with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone, accounting for almost 30% of India’s entire EEZ. They also sit astride some of the busiest shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, most carrying strategic cargo for the East Asian economies.

The Indian Armed Forces fully recognise these strategic imperatives, as is evident by the presence of the unique Tri Services Andaman and Nicobar Command. Each of the Services are committed towards contributing to the synergy of our efforts and today the commissioning of INS Baaz exemplifies the success of one such initiative.

In consonance with these Tri Service initiatives in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Indian Navy has been forging a two pronged policy approach.

The first policy push has been towards enhancing maritime engagement with South East Asian and East Asian countries. Many successful examples abound. Cooperative patrols with nations adjacent to the islands, like Thailand and Indonesia, and Navy-to-Navy linkages with comparatively distant ASEAN nations, like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, come instantly to mind. The inescapability of maritime cooperation amongst the littorals is underscored by the success of MILAN, an initiative nurtured by the Indian Navy over the past seventeen years, and supported by successive CINCANs as one of many symbols of the strength of jointmanship.

The second policy focus area has been to enhance the maritime capacity expansion both afloat and ashore.

The Navy has been progressively increasing the number of warships based at Port Blair, under the operational control of the ANC. More are in the pipeline. Port Blair will be home for amphibious platforms, Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft, as the Navy’s robust acquisition plans progress.

Infrastructure cases ashore include additional naval air stations, such as here at Campbell Bay, and operational turnaround bases for ships, these will be dispersed along the entire length of the island chain so as to maximise the reach and time-on-task for ships and aircraft on patrol.

The intent is also to ensure dispersed presence that would be able to render immediate local support and reduce response time, in the event of a humanitarian disaster such as the Tsunami of 2004, if God forbid, the need arises again.

One of the primary functions of INS Baaz will be to provide information, based on ‘airborne’ maritime surveillance. Maritime Domain Awareness is the key to effective and informed decision making in the maritime arena. Despite numerous advancements in the field of information gathering over sea, airborne surveillance, using aircraft and UAVs, remains invaluable.

In this context therefore Baaz is a very appropriate name as this airbase will provide an eagle’s eye view over these waters, the Andaman and Nicobar islands and the strategic sea lines of communication that abound these areas. The crest of the air station depicts an Andaman Serpent Eagle, endemic to these islands, flying against the blue background of the oceans. The flying eagle signifies the vigil being maintained by our aircraft over the vast expanse of the seas, contributing to maritime security during peacetime, while being prepared to aggressively pursue an adversary in war.

INS Baaz is blessed with a brilliant strategic location. Situated on this southernmost island of the Nicobar group, Campbell Bay overlooks the Strait of Malacca, while also dominating the 6 degree channel. These crucial waterways continue to engage the interest of most global and regional powers.

Without a few words for the determined men who will man INS Baaz, my address would be incomplete. I am aware of the hardships that you all face, while manning this remote outpost, separated from your families for long periods of time. None of us forget, that the work undertaken by each one of you, allows optimum exploitation of this strategic air station, thereby contributing significantly towards safeguarding India’s interests in the region. Yours is the tremendous responsibility of ensuring risk free air operations, round the clock, 365 days a year and the nation is grateful for your dedication and perseverance. I am sure that the pristine environs of Campbell Bay help you to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, we live today in a complex and dynamic security environment. As our nation seeks out her destiny, our national interests and aspirations also grow. There are no immediate signs of a diminishing threat. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands will form a vital node in our national security matrix.

The commissioning of the Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay is therefore a small but significant step towards supplementing our maritime capability in these islands. I have no doubt that the Naval Air Station, Campbell Bay will play a vital role in all our peacetime and wartime operations.

I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who were involved in the process, which has finally culminated in the Commissioning of this Naval Air Station. I also warmly compliment the Andaman and Nicobar Command for the steadfast support provided in realising this goal. It is indeed a job well done.

I wish the Commanding Officer, INS Baaz and all Ranks serving, present and in the future, the very best of luck. May you enjoy “happy hunting” and “happy landings”. God Bless.

Thank you. Jai Hind.

Broadsword: INS Baaz, the Indian Navy's air station in the Andaman Islands

 

[Indian Tiger]

Very good news!!!!

 

[illuminatidinesh]

The Runway looks too short there for P8 and Tu142....... Looks more for fighters and transport operations.. lets wait and see.

 

[shuntmaster]

The Runway looks too short there for P8 and Tu142....... Looks more for fighters and transport operations.. lets wait and see.

That was exactly my thinking too. But, there is ample space on the north side of the runway, to almost double the length of the present runway, in future. Probably this is developed as just a forward airbase for now, with future plans to upgrade it in future.

 

[oct605032048]

If China feels it can control the shipping traffic between Pacific ocean and Indian ocean by controlling the South-China sea area, they are in for a big surprise. 80% of China's oil imports flows through the Malacca straights.

lol.

crude oil production 2009

Iran 4,172,000 bbl/day
China 3,991,000 bbl/day
India 0,878,700 bbl/day

 

[shuntmaster]

lol.

crude oil production 2009

Iran 4,172,000 bbl/day
China 3,991,000 bbl/day
India 0,878,700 bbl/day

By 2018 China will be importing more oil than what Saudi Arabia will produce

Most of this oill will pass through the Malacca Straights.

 

[oct605032048]

China's energy production by type. (2010)

Crude Oil 200 Million Ton = 4.5 India
Coal 3,162 Million Ton = 8 Saudi Arabia