New naval base for N-subs, AC, near Visakhapatnam

Srinivas_K

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New naval base for nuclear subs, aircraft carrier, coming up near Visakhapatnam


The navy has lifted the shroud of secrecy over a major new sea base being built on India's eastern coast, which will be home to the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, and an armada of warships under the Eastern Naval Command.

The new base, on the Bay of Bengal, will also house India's nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) force. Current plans involve building six SSBNs, to form the underwater leg of the country's nuclear triad. The first, INS Arihant, will soon be operational; the second and the third are currently being built.

For years, the ministry of defence (MoD) has refused to even acknowledge the existence of the secret new base, which will come up around the coastal hamlet of Rambilli, 50 kilometres south-west of Visakhapatnam. The plan is code named "Project Varsha".

Divulging that the new base will house conventional as well as nuclear warships, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, the head of Eastern Naval Command, told Business Standard, "We don't talk about it much for obvious reasons. There are plans for a new base, and we hope to see one in a matter of 7-8 years."

India's eastern seaboard on the Bay of Bengal, with deep water and harbours with over 10 metres depth of water, is far better suited as a nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier base than the western seaboard, where the shallower Arabian Sea is barely 4 metres deep along the coast.

Like China's massive nuclear submarine base at Hainan Island, the depth of water at Rambilli will allow submarines to enter and leave the base without being detected by satellites. This secrecy is crucial for SSBNs, which must remain undetected when they leave for months-long patrols, carrying nuclear tipped ballistic missiles.

China's rapid naval build-up, and its belligerent handling of maritime disputes with smaller neighbours in the South China Sea and East China Sea, has caused New Delhi to focus keenly on enhancing the operational posture of the eastern fleet, which must counter any threat from China.

The same concerns had, in 2001, led to the creation of the tri-service Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), 1,225 kilometres from Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal. The ANC dominates the Malacca Strait, and the shipping routes between West Asia and South-East Asia.

Visakhapatnam is home to the eastern fleet, India's biggest, with 50 warships. The new base at Rambilli will decongest Visakhapatnam --- also a major commercial hub --- and provide a secure base that is removed from population centres.

Western Naval Command already has such a base, INS Kadamba, built in 2005 to decongest Mumbai. Located at Karwar, near Goa, it is home to the aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, and much of the western fleet. Being built in several phases, that project is code named "Project Seabird".

With INS Vikrant harboured in Rambilli after the aircraft carrier is commissioned in 2018, the naval air base at Visakhapatnam --- INS Dega --- is being expanded to house the Vikrant's MiG-29K and Tejas fighters and its helicopters, when the aircraft carrier is not at sea.

Soni says the government has approved Rs 200 crore for infrastructure at INS Dega for the Vikrant's MiG-29K fighters; and another Rs 200 crore for the navy's Hawk trainers that will be based at Visakhapatnam.

Visakhapatnam's importance as a naval aviation centre has been boosted by the recent identification of a secondary airfield, to which aircraft can be diverted in case of emergencies or bad weather at Visakhapatnam. Soni says land acquisition has begun, and the state government has provided an NOC to the navy.

"We are looking at Bobilli, a disused, World War II airfield about 45 nautical miles from here (Visakhapatnam). We will have fighters flying from here so we will need an alternative base, to which flights can be diverted. Bobilli is north west of Visakhapatnam towards Vijaywada", said Soni.

Currently, the diversionary airfields around Visakhapatnam are: Vijaywada (157 nautical miles); Bhubaneshwar (212 nautical miles); and Shamshabad (279 nautical miles).

Broadsword
 
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ninja85

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

in total how many subs india needs for its defence?
 

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

in total how many subs india needs for its defence?
It depends on the Fire power each sub consists of.

Each US Nuclear Submarine carries 24 Trident MIRV ICBMs which is enough to threaten a country like Pakistan. The idea that a nuclear submarine is lurking and ready to strike will strike fear in the enemy.
 

ninja85

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

ok but is there some number how many subs? is this correct that india gonna need 5 AC's in future?
 

Srinivas_K

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

ok but is there some number how many subs? is this correct that india gonna need 5 AC's in future?
Depends on India's aspirations.

If India wants to be a global power then we need 10 ACs and 30 Nuke submarines both SSN and SSBN.

ATM India has to take care of IOR and so 5 ACs and 6 SSBNs are fine.

But in future India needs more AC battle groups for sure.
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

It depends on the Fire power each sub consists of.

Each US Nuclear Submarine carries 24 Trident MIRV ICBMs which is enough to threaten a country like Pakistan. The idea that a nuclear submarine is lurking and ready to strike will strike fear in the enemy.
Well Sir, 24 Trident MIRV ICBMS are tttttttttttooooooooooooooooooo mmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuucccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh for pakistan.........
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

Depends on India's aspirations.

If India wants to be a global power then we need 10 ACs and 30 Nuke submarines both SSN and SSBN.

ATM India has to take care of IOR and so 5 ACs and 6 SSBNs are fine.

But in future India needs more AC battle groups for sure.
OIL RESERVES are very important for maintaining such a huge fleet. From where is India going to get the huge oil reserve?
 

Srinivas_K

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

OIL RESERVES are very important for maintaining such a huge fleet. From where is India going to get the huge oil reserve?
Most of the combat ships and Aircraft carriers are going to be nuclear powered these days.
 

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

in total how many subs india needs for its defence?
Simple but realistic answer, more than Bakistan & China's subs combined together.
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

Simple but realistic answer, more than Bakistan & China's subs combined together.
China has 60+ subs and pakistan i don't know. If we have to have a combined fleet then we must have 80 subs......

By the time we build and increase to 80, the Chinese will add more. Our manufacturing is very slow and we have to increase the infrastructure to build.
 

kseeker

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

China has 60+ subs and pakistan i don't know. If we have to have a combined fleet then we must have 80 subs......

By the time we build and increase to 80, the Chinese will add more. Our manufacturing is very slow and we have to increase the infrastructure to build.
Absolutely. We need to have that capability to build defence equipment indigenously; then only we can compete with Chinese.
 

Kranthi

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

Most of the combat ships and Aircraft carriers are going to be nuclear powered these days.
India is not so rich in uranium reserves.. And uranium imports are not as easy as oil imports. Won't it be difficult for us to find enough uranium to operate multiple dozens of ships for decades.. Its preferable to dedicate our limited uranium reserves exclusives for nuclear submarines and weapons.

Civil nuclear deals are vital to free up our domestic production solely for military purposes.
 

Srinivas_K

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

India is not so rich in uranium reserves.. And uranium imports are not as easy as oil imports. Won't it be difficult for us to find enough uranium to operate multiple dozens of ships for decades.. Its preferable to dedicate our limited uranium reserves exclusives for nuclear submarines and weapons.

Civil nuclear deals are vital to free up our domestic production solely for military purposes.
There are thorium reserves and there is optimism on experimental thorium reactor for civilian usage.

There are Uranium reserves in India, some yet to be explored.

Tummalapalle uranium mine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

ninja85

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

OIL RESERVES are very important for maintaining such a huge fleet. From where is India going to get the huge oil reserve?
question can fool for a second.
 

ninja85

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

Simple but realistic answer, more than Bakistan & China's subs combined together.
maybe because 5 ac's and 6 subs don't sound proportional.
 

ninja85

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Re: New naval base for nuclear subs,aircraft carrier,coming up near Vi

India is not so rich in uranium reserves.. And uranium imports are not as easy as oil imports. Won't it be difficult for us to find enough uranium to operate multiple dozens of ships for decades.. Its preferable to dedicate our limited uranium reserves exclusives for nuclear submarines and weapons.

Civil nuclear deals are vital to free up our domestic production solely for military purposes.
we are poor in every way.
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Who said India is not rich in Uranium reserves?

It is because of the so called green loving morons who are not interested in India becoming self-reliant are doing this. We have a huge Uranium deposit in Meghalaya..... These idiotic morons who say that they are saving the forests and the local tribes are backed by the NSG group and they do not want India to extract from the Uranium deposits as they will loose the money they are getting for selling their Uranium to India......
 

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