Table of Contents
Visakhapatnam | April 9, 2025:
Indian Navy: India is preparing to commission one of its most significant strategic naval facilities—the Rambilli base—located near the Andhra Pradesh coast. Conceived under the secretive Project Varsha, this installation is set to become the Eastern Command’s most formidable asset in the coming decades.
The construction, which has spanned over a decade, marks a vital step in fortifying India’s nuclear deterrent. What sets Rambilli apart is not what is visible above ground—but what lies concealed beneath.
Rambilli’s Underground Edge: A Fortress of Stealth
Built to discreetly host India’s fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), the base features a network of underground tunnels and submarine pens. This design allows submarines to enter and exit the Bay of Bengal undetected—avoiding enemy satellite surveillance, particularly from China.
Modelled after China’s fortified Yulin base on Hainan Island, Rambilli provides a strategic layer of invisibility essential for effective second-strike capability. Defence sources confirmed to The Times of India that Phase 1 is nearly complete, with commissioning expected in 2026. Future phases will further strengthen the base’s capability over time.
India’s Nuclear Submarine Programme Advances
The upcoming induction of INS Aridhaman, India’s third SSBN, will further reinforce the Navy’s underwater arsenal. With a 7,000-tonne displacement, Aridhaman is larger and more capable than its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, and can carry K-4 ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500 km.
This addition consolidates India’s nuclear triad—its ability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea. A fourth SSBN is under construction, and future iterations under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project will feature 13,500-tonne submarines powered by 190 MW reactors, a significant upgrade over the current 83 MW designs.
SSNs in the Pipeline: Conventional Strength at Sea
In addition to SSBNs, India is moving forward with plans to build six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) for conventional warfare. In October 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the construction of the first two, each expected to displace nearly 9,800 tonnes, with a combined budget of ₹40,000 crore.
These submarines will be crucial in escort missions, intelligence gathering, and asserting control over key maritime zones across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Indian Navy’s Karwar Naval Base: Western Flank Reinforced
While the eastern flank gains strength with Rambilli, the western front is being simultaneously upgraded through Project Seabird at Karwar, Karnataka. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a fresh phase of operational and logistical infrastructure here, built at a cost exceeding ₹2,000 crore.
Karwar, already home to over a dozen warships, is set to accommodate up to 50 warships and submarines, along with 40 auxiliary craft, once Phase IIB is complete. It also features a dual-use naval air station, dry berths, and a fully equipped dockyard—crucial to decongesting Mumbai Harbour and enhancing Western Command readiness.
Geopolitical Pressures Fuel India’s Maritime Urgency
India’s naval expansions are unfolding amid rising regional tensions. Reports have surfaced that China may assist Bangladesh in constructing an airfield in Lalmonirhat, a region alarmingly close to the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”—India’s vital land link to its northeastern states.
Though no Chinese aircraft have been stationed there yet, the strategic implications are clear. The proximity to Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam raises serious security concerns, especially as Pakistan resumes high-level diplomatic visits to Bangladesh for the first time since 2012.
Strategic Signalling Through Silent Strength
India’s maritime doctrine is evolving. Rambilli and Karwar are more than just infrastructure upgrades—they represent a strategic pivot toward stealth, flexibility, and sustained maritime power. The country’s growing undersea capability sends a quiet but unmistakable message: India is ready to secure its strategic waters, enforce deterrence, and project power far beyond its shores.
As the Indo-Pacific grows increasingly contested, the Indian Navy’s silent expansion is positioning New Delhi not just as a regional power—but a resolute maritime force preparing for the long game.
The Hindustan Herald Is Your Source For The Latest In Business, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, And LinkedIn To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Don’t Forget To Subscribe Our Telegram Channel @hindustanherald
