https://sputniknews.in/20240720/indias-new-lakshadweep-airfields-to-strengthen-ior-security-7871926.html
India's New Lakshadweep Airfields to Strengthen IOR Security
India's New Lakshadweep Airfields to Strengthen IOR Security
Sputnik India
The establishment of two military airfields in Lakshadweep addresses both longstanding traditional and non-traditional security threats, along with modern challenges such as supply chain security, according to experts.
2024-07-20T15:32+0530
2024-07-20T15:32+0530
2024-07-20T15:32+0530
defenсe news
science & tech
india
lakshadweep
indian ocean
government of india
ministry of external affairs (mea)
ministry of defence (mod)
maritime security
maritime dispute
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e8/07/14/7873036_0:105:2800:1680_1920x0_80_0_0_005008bf8b4c4740f415b54264aa92fe.jpg
The Indian government has approved to establish two military airfields in the Lakshadweep islands, aiming to enhance the armed forces operational capabilities in the area.“These airfields will strategically extend India's military reach deep into the Indian Ocean,” said retired Air Marshal G S Bedi, who played a key role in planning their expansion during his tenure as Senior Air Staff Officer in the Southern Naval Command.Speaking with Sputnik India, Bedi emphasized the logistical challenges India's aircraft faces when taking off solely from mainland shores like Cochin or Trivandrum in terms of refuelling during missions and extensive ocean surveillance.Having two military airfields where aircraft can take off, refuel, and land after completing missions will significantly enhance defence capabilities, he argued.Bedi stressed that India has carefully considered logistics to ensure the airfields meet required standards, integrating smoothly into the surrounding terrain and logistical framework, with due consideration for maritime and air traffic.Air Marshal acknowledges potential challenges such as maintenance needs for fuel, armaments, and other equipment, however, he asserts that “these challenges are surmountable.”These airfields “will also extend India's operational reach, serving as critical assets deployed for various roles, including surveillance missions,” Bedi mentioned.India's Strategic Response: Establishing Purpose-Specific Airfields“India's response to mounting security challenges includes the establishment of purpose-specific airfields,” Group Captain (Dr) Ajey Lele (Retd.), Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) told Sputnik India.India is adopting a comprehensive approach to its security architecture, incorporating various measures including the development of two airfields as integral components, the Group Captain suggested.These initiatives, according to Lele, addresses the longstanding “traditional and non-traditional security threats as well as contemporary challenges like supply chain security, reflecting a broader strategic perspective beyond purely military concerns.”Parmar emphasised that this development “will enhance overall operational flexibility by providing additional airfields, which are conveniently located, approximately 100 kilometers south of the Maldives.”He emphasized that the development of Minicoy's new airbase will depend on factors like infrastructure design, runway length, and the types of aircraft it can accommodate.INS Jatayu: Administrative Backbone for New Airbase & Upgraded Facilities at Agatti IslandIt will take a few years for the airfields to become fully operational under the oversight of the nearest theatre command, impacting operational integration and missile strategies, Parmar noted.As for Agatti Island, currently a civil airfield, Parmar pointed out that extending its runway “would maintain its civilian status while incorporating military use, requiring careful consideration of available land for infrastructure development.”Meanwhile, the military analyst noted that INS Jatayu serves primarily as an administrative hub, providing essential logistic and administrative support not only to the adjacent airbase under development but also to the upgraded facilities at Agatti Island.This integration is part of a planned effort to establish new infrastructure that operates independently while complementing existing structures, he indicated.Parmar noted that the type of base planned would determine the need for an aircraft repair facility, he contuined that a full-fledged airbase project “would require extensive infrastructure, making it a significant undertaking”.Conversely, an advanced operating base might “require less detailed infrastructure, focusing primarily on essentials for operational needs and basic maintenance,” he explained.Geopolitically, increase maritime security will also bring more armed presence to the islands, fostering greater interaction among local communities, military, and civil administration, ultimately boosting India's First neighbourhood policy and maritime security efforts, he concluded.
https://sputniknews.in/20240312/first-group-of-indian-military-wraps-up-maldives-helicopter-ops-transfers-duties-to-civilians-6806247.html
india
lakshadweep
indian ocean
maldives
south asia
south china sea
southeast asia
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2024
Swapna Nair
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e7/09/12/4320104_0:0:681:681_100x100_80_0_0_ca8a7d4d582609272840ffdd1cde7278.jpg
Swapna Nair
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e7/09/12/4320104_0:0:681:681_100x100_80_0_0_ca8a7d4d582609272840ffdd1cde7278.jpg
News
en_IN
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Swapna Nair
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e7/09/12/4320104_0:0:681:681_100x100_80_0_0_ca8a7d4d582609272840ffdd1cde7278.jpg
indian government, military airfields, lakshadweep islands, armed forces operational capabilities, tri-services proposal, airbase, minicoy, agatti island, indian ocean, retired air marshal g s bedi, senior air staff officer, southern naval command, cochin or trivandrum, refuel, and land, defence capabilities, logistics, airfields, terrain and logistical framework, maritime and air traffic, air marshal, fuel, armaments, india's operational reach, surveillance missions, group captain (dr) ajey lele (retd.), deputy director general, manohar parrikar institute for defence studies and analyses (mp-idsa), security architecture, traditional and non-traditional security threats, fighters, transports, and maritime reconnaissance, captain sarabjeet s parmar (retd), distinguished fellow, united service institution of india, maldives, infrastructure design, runway length, agatti island, civil airfield, infrastructure development, agatti island, india's neighbourhood policy
indian government, military airfields, lakshadweep islands, armed forces operational capabilities, tri-services proposal, airbase, minicoy, agatti island, indian ocean, retired air marshal g s bedi, senior air staff officer, southern naval command, cochin or trivandrum, refuel, and land, defence capabilities, logistics, airfields, terrain and logistical framework, maritime and air traffic, air marshal, fuel, armaments, india's operational reach, surveillance missions, group captain (dr) ajey lele (retd.), deputy director general, manohar parrikar institute for defence studies and analyses (mp-idsa), security architecture, traditional and non-traditional security threats, fighters, transports, and maritime reconnaissance, captain sarabjeet s parmar (retd), distinguished fellow, united service institution of india, maldives, infrastructure design, runway length, agatti island, civil airfield, infrastructure development, agatti island, india's neighbourhood policy
India's New Lakshadweep Airfields to Strengthen IOR Security
The establishment of two military airfields in Lakshadweep addresses both longstanding traditional and non-traditional security threats, along with modern challenges such as supply chain security, according to experts.
The Indian government has approved to establish two military airfields in the Lakshadweep islands, aiming to enhance the armed forces operational capabilities in the area.
Approved under the tri-services proposal, the plan involves constructing an airbase on Minicoy and expanding the current facility on Agatti island.
“These airfields will strategically extend India's military reach deep into the Indian Ocean,” said retired Air Marshal G S Bedi, who played a key role in planning their expansion during his tenure as Senior Air Staff Officer in the Southern Naval Command.
Speaking with Sputnik India, Bedi emphasized the logistical challenges India's aircraft faces when taking off solely from mainland shores like Cochin or Trivandrum in terms of refuelling during missions and extensive ocean surveillance.
Having two military airfields where aircraft can take off, refuel, and land after completing missions will
significantly enhance defence capabilities, he argued.
Bedi stressed that India has carefully considered logistics to ensure the airfields meet required standards, integrating smoothly into the surrounding terrain and logistical framework, with due consideration for maritime and air traffic.
Air Marshal acknowledges potential challenges such as maintenance needs for fuel, armaments, and other equipment, however, he asserts that “these challenges are surmountable.”
These airfields “will also extend India's operational reach, serving as critical assets deployed for various roles, including surveillance missions,” Bedi mentioned.
India's Strategic Response: Establishing Purpose-Specific Airfields
“India's response to mounting security challenges includes the establishment of purpose-specific airfields,” Group Captain (Dr) Ajey Lele (Retd.), Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) told Sputnik India.
India is adopting a comprehensive
approach to its security architecture, incorporating various measures including the development of two airfields as integral components, the Group Captain suggested.
These initiatives, according to Lele, addresses the longstanding “traditional and non-traditional security threats as well as contemporary challenges like supply chain security, reflecting a broader strategic perspective beyond purely military concerns.”
“The effectiveness will hinge on the infrastructure's quality and its capacity to support various aircraft, including fighters, transports, and maritime reconnaissance,” Captain Sarabjeet S Parmar (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, United Service Institution of India told Sputnik India.
Parmar emphasised that this development “will enhance overall operational flexibility by providing additional airfields, which are conveniently located, approximately 100 kilometers south of the Maldives.”
He emphasized that the
development of Minicoy's new airbase will depend on factors like infrastructure design, runway length, and the types of aircraft it can accommodate.
INS Jatayu: Administrative Backbone for New Airbase & Upgraded Facilities at Agatti Island
It will take a few years for the airfields to become fully operational under the oversight of the nearest theatre command, impacting operational integration and missile strategies, Parmar noted.
As for Agatti Island,
currently a civil airfield, Parmar pointed out that extending its runway “would maintain its civilian status while incorporating military use, requiring careful consideration of available land for infrastructure development.”
Meanwhile, the military analyst noted that INS Jatayu serves primarily as an administrative hub, providing essential logistic and administrative support not only to the adjacent airbase under development but also to the upgraded facilities at Agatti Island.
This integration is part of a planned effort to establish new infrastructure that operates independently while
complementing existing structures, he indicated.
Parmar noted that the type of base planned would determine the need for an aircraft repair facility, he contuined that a full-fledged airbase project “would require extensive infrastructure, making it a significant undertaking”.
Conversely, an advanced operating base might “require less detailed infrastructure, focusing primarily on essentials for
operational needs and basic maintenance,” he explained.
Geopolitically, increase maritime security will also bring more armed presence to the islands, fostering greater interaction among local communities, military, and civil administration, ultimately boosting India's First neighbourhood policy and maritime security efforts, he concluded.
