Context:

• The Navy to commission a new airbase 100 miles north of Port Blair in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Details:

• Upon commission, this will be India’s fourth air base and the third naval air facility in the archipelago, which are closer to Southeast Asia than to the Indian mainland, overlooking key sea lanes of communication and strategic choke points. According to the officials, the base will initially operate choppers and Dornier short-range surveillance aircraft and will have a runway of about 3,000 m which will in phases be extended to 9000 m to support all kinds of aircraft including fighter jets.
• As part of the upgrade, the base will feature staging facilities, a fuel dump and maintenance and repair facilities.