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India To Upgrade Airstrips In Andaman And Nicobar Islands Into Full-Fledged Fighter Bases To Counter China
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a review meeting with CDS General Bipin Rawat and others (representative image) (Pic via Twitter)
India is planning to upgrade its airstrips at INS Kohassa, Shibpur located in the north Andaman, and at the Campbell strip in Nicobar into full-fledged fighter bases, reports Hindustan Times.
In addition to these, as per the report, the airstrip at Lakshadweep is also set to be upgraded for military operations. While the elevation of the airstrips in Andaman and Nicobar islands into full-fledged fighter bases will secure the Bay of Bengal up to the Malacca Straits, the up-gradation of the airstrip in Lakshadweep will secure the Arabian Sea up to the Gulf of Aden.
The aim behind the move is to operate the facilities in the two island territories as new aircraft carriers for India, extending the reach of the Indian Navy in areas far away from the mainland Indian coastline.
This also gains significance as the both the islands sit on the busiest sea lanes of the world with more than half of the world's trade passing through them.
The development also gains importance as amid China's continued expansion of its reach and infrastructure around Indian territory, India wants to ensure that there is no restrictions on navigation or a replay of the South China Sea in its backyard.
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