In order to boost the defence and reach of Indian Armed forces, India has decided to activate the southern-most airfield in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Naval Air Station (NAS) Baaz ("Hawk") will be on the farthest of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands(A&NC), just before the farthest point in the Indian territory - Indra Point on the Great Nicobar. There is a now an airstrip to allow operations for a fixed wing aircrafts, before only choppers could operate from that Island. This will be the fifth Indian Military base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, other being NAS Shibpur, Tri-Service Command, Carnic AFS and INS Kardip.
The A&NC also has the only tri-services command, located at Port Blair, of the country. The command controls army, navy and air force assets independently as part of its force structure.
Malacca Straits having a strategic location vis-a-vis trade channels for China and other countries, the A&NC islands was bound to get the attention sooner or later considering Chinese expansion in Indian ocean and the general threat from China.
India with the recent acquisitions of C-130J, Globemaster IIIs (C-17) and other naval assets is now in a position to make this Island Air Station fully operational and effective bulwark for Indian naval interests.
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