INS KADAMBA Largest Naval Base India

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Largest Naval base in the world

Naval Station Norfolkis the world’s largest naval station, supporting 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars. The base houses the largest concentration of S. Navy forces.
The naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, will be home to Indian aircraft carriers, 30 warships and submarines (approx.), making it the largest naval base in Asia by 2025.

$3 billion program
Area – over 11,000 acres
Under – Project Seabird
Phase 1- 2005
Phase 2- 2025

PROJECT SEABIRD

During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the Indian Navy faced security challenges for its Western Fleet in Mumbai Harbour due to congestion in the shipping lanes from commercial shipping traffic, fishing boats and tourists.

At the end of the war, various options were considered on addressing these concerns

Alternative locations for a base on the west coast were evaluated , including Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Kannur (Kerala) and Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu)
In the early 1980s, 11^th Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson (1 March 1982 to 30 November 1984) wanted a naval base between the steep hills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea near Karwar

October 1986

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi laid project’s Foundation Stone
Due to a variety of reasons, including the 1991 economic crisis , environmental clearance, political unrest etc. , development was delayed.
In 1999, following Pokhran-II, then Defence Minister George Fernandes approved Project Seabirdto pursue the construction of the new naval base at Karwar.
Over 5 km of breakwater were constructed using over 4 million cubic metres of rock to protect the harbour.
The Binaga Bay was dredged and its rock outcrops blasted to allow even large aircraft carriers to turn inside the bay

Anjadip Islandis one of the two islands to which the breakwaters are linked for reinforcement. A second channel was to be added to the base to allow warships to enter and exit the port simultaneously.
Breakwaters -permanent structure constructed at a coastal area to protect against tides, currents, waves, soil erosion and storm

PHASE 1

INS Kadamba

Construction of a deep-sea harbour, breakwaters, dredging, a township, a naval hospital, a dockyard uplift centre and a ship lift INS Kadamba is currently the 3^rd largest Indian naval base

WHY THIS LOCATION ?

Geographic Importance – between steep hills – difficult to attack
Strategic Importance – very close to the world’s busiest shipping route between the Persian Gulf and east Asia
Offers a natural deep-water harbour
Significant land area for expansion, allowing larger aircraft carriers to berth
Spread over an area of 45 square km (11,000 acres) and 23 km of coastline on the Arabian Sea

Key facilities

1) Space for up to 11 front-line warships and 10 smaller FIC-type boats.
2) 10,000 tonne, 175 m × 28 m (574 ft × 92 ft) ship lift
3) A ship transfer system for dry docking at the Naval Ship Repair Yard
4) A 141-bed naval hospital INHS Patanjali

Commodore K P Ramachandran was the first Commanding Officer of Kadamba.
Phase-I was completed at a total cost of ₹2,629 crore (US$345 million)
Only a section of INS Kadamba is operational at the moment & is home to the only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
After completion of the Phase 2 it will be the largest Naval base in Asia

PHASE 2

Development of Phase II of INS Kadamba at Karwar, Karnataka was supposed to commence in 2011 but got delayed due to lack of environmental clearance
The Phase-II approval was obtained from the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2012, after getting approval from Former Defence Minister A K Antony ₹13,500 crore (US$2 billion) were granted
After the environmental clearance the work got commenced in 2016 and is expected to be completed by 2022

Carrier INS Vikrant will also be based at Karwar
A few of the Kalvari-class submarines will also be based here.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the commissioning of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant will be a momentous occasion in the history of Indian defence as it is coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.
An airstrip, with additional warships, an air station and a naval research centre etc. – coming up at Karwar, Karnataka
After the completion of this phase of the project, INS Kadambawill be able to base 50 front-line warships, and will be the biggest naval base east of the Suez canal.
Under the proposed expansion plans, a 3,000 feet long runway to be built.
If the Centre and the State send request to the Indian Navy seeking to utilize the runway for civil aviation aircraft, the runway length will be increased to 6,000 feet.
The Indian Navy, through the State government, has acquired 11,334 acres of land which includes 8,661 acres of forest land.

Aim

Provide fleet support and maintenance to warships
Expansion of runway, which will allow civil flight operations
Expanded runway will allow operations of maritime planes of the Navy and also fighter jets.
Boost to the economy of the region.
Help in augmenting trade, economy & humanitarian aid operations.
Upon completion, this $3 billion program and effort will provide the Indian Navy with its largest naval base on the west coast and also the largest naval base east of the Suez Canal.
Rajnath Singh (IDM) expressed confidence that Indian Navy will become one of the top three Navies in the world in the coming years and continue to play a crucial role in protecting the nation.
The Defence Minister thanked the Indian Navy for making an “invaluable contribution” towards maritime and national security, besides strengthening India’s position at the strategic, diplomatic and trade levels.
He further said that the navy is continuously strengthening India’s relations with its maritime neighbours with its focus on ‘SAGAR’ (Security & Growth for All in Region).

Q) Naval submarine INS Kalvari has been a partnership between India and which EU nation?
a. Italy
b. France
c. Germany
d. Spain
ANSWER: France

Explanation :-
INS Kalvari is described as a prime example of “Make in India.”
The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is described as Asia’s century.
He added that it is also certain that the road to development in the 21st century goes through the Indian Ocean.
That is why the Indian Ocean has a special place in the policies of the Government, he added.
The Prime Minister said this vision can be understood through the acronym SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region.