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Journalism of Courage
With China steadily increasing its foot print in the Indian Ocean Region,India has decided to upgrade two fighter bases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that will increase its reach in South Asia by more than 1,200 km.
Two airstrips at Shibpur in the Andamans and at Campbell Bay in Nicobar Islands will be turned into all weather bases that can support fighter operations.
Two airstrips in the Andaman Nicobar Command are being upgraded from the existing 3,200 feet to12,000 feet to allow all types of aircraft,including fighters,to operate, Commander-in-Chief of Andaman Nicobar Command Vice-Admiral D K Joshi said.
Since fighter aircraft already operate from Port Blair Naval base and Car Nicobar Air Force base,the upgraded air bases will significantly increase Indias reach in the region and give the tri-services command at Andaman Nicobar more options to deploy aircraft.
The two upgraded bases,work on which has already started,will also be capable of handling night operations. The Campbell Bay base on Great Nicobar Island is close to Indira Point,the southern most tip of India,and hence, will give fighters faster access to the strategic Malacca Straits.
Its a very good thing to build an airfield on the Campbell Island. One,it gives you reach into the Strait of Malacca and secondly it is of deterrence value. While (in the past) we did not feel it necessary to base fighters (here),it can always be used as a forward base, said former Air Chief F H Major.
