Recently, the Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh visited INS Baaz, the southernmost air station of the Indian Armed Forces. This development has brought the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Baaz back into spotlight. INS Baaz is situated at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar island, which is the largest and the southernmost island of the Nicobar islands. Falling within the purview of Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, INS Baaz was officially commissioned in July 2012.
This facility is a vital part of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-services command of the Indian Armed Forces, which was inaugurated in 2001.
Functions of INS Baaz
As an integral part of the Indian Armed Forces, INS Baaz plays several significant roles. It plays a key role in building maritime domain awareness. It does this by providing valuable information via airborne surveillance. This is achieved using aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Moreover, it works towards ensuring maritime security in the territories of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. This substantially increases the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance capabilities. Apart from its military duties, INS Baaz also fulfills certain social responsibilities. It steps in to assist the local populace in times of need such as during medical emergencies requiring evacuation.
Strategic Importance of the Location
Great Nicobar Island holds strategic importance for India. It hosts Indira Point and is less than 250 km by sea from Banda Aceh in Indonesia.
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands hold immense strategic significance for India’s national security as they provide India with the ability to closely monitor sea areas in the region. The location is often referred to as India’s “window into East and Southeast Asia”.
Furthermore, its proximity to the Six Degree Channel, also referred to as the Great Channel, makes this location even more important. This channel is one of the busiest shipping lines in the Indian Ocean and carries strategic cargo to East Asian countries. It’s also located close to the Strait of Malacca.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Island |
| Commissioned on | July 2012 |
| Key responsibility | Maritime domain awareness & surveillance |
| Closest to | Banda Aceh in Indonesia, less than 250 km |
| Provides surveillance for | Six Degree Channel, the busiest Indian Ocean shipping line |
Under the Andaman and Nicobar Command
As previously mentioned, INS Baaz is under the Andaman and Nicobar Command, which was initiated in 2001. This makes it a part of the only tri-services formation of the Indian Armed Forces, thus increasing its significance in military operations and strategies.