The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of 572 islands located in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. They are strategically important for India as they lie close to the Malacca Strait, a vital sea lane of communication that connects the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The islands also provide India with a natural base to monitor and counter the growing presence and influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located at the mouth of the Malacca Straits and Ten Degree Channel, through which trillion-US dollar worth trade passes through to southeast and north Asia. The southernmost tip of the island chain is mere 237 kilometers from Banda Aceh of Indonesia and hence dominates the sea lanes to Sunda and Lombok Straits, the two ingress routes into contested South China Sea. Given that the islands chain is a key strategic lever in the Indo-Pacific, it is considered a key Indian military asset.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the only tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India. It was created in 2001 to safeguard India’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing rapid deployment of military assets in the region. It provides logistical and administrative support to naval ships which are sent on deployment to East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The ANC is responsible for the security and defence of the islands, as well as for conducting joint operations and exercises with friendly countries in the region. The ANC also plays a key role in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of crisis.
The ANC comprises of assets and personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The Army has deployed two infantry brigades, one amphibious brigade, and one special forces unit in the islands. The Navy has stationed several warships, submarines, patrol vessels, and maritime surveillance aircraft at various naval bases and stations. The Air Force has deployed fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and drones at different airfields and airstrips. The Coast Guard has deployed several ships, boats, and aircraft for coastal security and maritime law enforcement345.
Some of the latest defence assets deployed by the ANC in the islands are:
INS Baaz: This is a naval air station located at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, the southernmost point of India. It was commissioned in 2012 and is capable of operating heavy-lift transport aircraft like the C-130J Super Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster III. It also hosts Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters. INS Baaz enhances India’s surveillance and reach over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially towards the Malacca Strait, Indonesia, and Australia.
INS Kohassa: This is another naval air station located at Shibpur on North Andaman Island. It was commissioned in 2019 and is capable of operating fighter jets like the MiG-29K and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. It also hosts Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters. INS Kohassa enhances India’s air defence and strike capabilities over the IOR, especially towards Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
There have been calls for further development. For example, there have been suggestions to extend the runways at INS Kohassa in North Andaman and INS Baaz in Great Nicobar to allow Indian Navy’s anti-submarine and reconnaissance P8I to operate in the region.
There have also been calls for a jetty to handle the Indian Navy’s two aircraft carriers at Campbell Bay if India plans to counter the Chinese challenge in the Indo-Pacific. A large-scale joint military exercise ‘Exercise Kavach’ was conducted under the aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) involving assets of Army, Navy, Air Force and Cost Guard.
INS Kardip: This is a naval base located at Kamorta Island in the Nicobar group. It was commissioned in 2005 and is home to several naval ships, including landing craft utility (LCU) vessels that can transport troops and equipment to remote islands. It also hosts fast interceptor craft (FIC) that can patrol the waters around the islands. INS Kardip enhances India’s amphibious and coastal security capabilities over the IOR, especially towards Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Seychelles.
Car Nicobar Air Force Station: This is an air force station located at Car Nicobar Island in the Nicobar group. It was established in 1956 and is one of the oldest air bases in India. It hosts Jaguar fighter-bombers, AN-32 transport aircraft, Mi-8 helicopters, and Heron drones. It also has a radar station that monitors the airspace over the IOR. Car Nicobar Air Force Station enhances India’s air power projection and intelligence gathering capabilities over the IOR, especially towards Indonesia, Singapore, and China.
Diglipur Air Force Station: This is an air force station located at Diglipur on North Andaman Island. It was established in 2010 and is capable of operating fighter jets like the MiG-29K and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. It also hosts Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters. Diglipur Air Force Station enhances India’s air defence and strike capabilities over the IOR, especially towards Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The ANC has given a strategic edge to India in the Indo-Pacific region by enabling it to:
- Secure its sovereignty and territorial integrity over the islands
- Protect its maritime interests and trade routes in the IOR
- Deter any aggression or coercion by China or any other adversary
- Enhance its diplomatic and military cooperation with friendly countries
- Project its soft power and goodwill through humanitarian missions
The ANC is a vital component of India’s vision of a free, open, inclusive, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Yet, it is possible that Lakshadweep, along with the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, could be converted into a second Tri-Command facility. As India expands its maritime outlook in both the western and eastern theatres of the Indian Ocean, the islands of Lakshadweep will receive increased strategic attention. The islands offer the same advantages for India’s naval diplomacy as do the Andaman Islands, to the east.
Lakshadweep has assumed strategic importance in recent years with the rise of China and its efforts to dominate the Indo-Pacific. Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are two natural sentinels for India on the east and the west. They are two virtual aircraft carriers and candidates for developing naval facilities there.
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