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Radars, jetties, airfield and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
The Indian Navy’s newest base being established on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep, INS Jatayu, will have all these and many more.
The upgrade is part of a long-term capability development plan which officials and experts say will shore up India’s security footprint on the islands located very close to critical Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC).
This is especially significant as Chinese naval footprint, which includes ‘research vessels’, has seen massive expansion in the Indian Ocean.
BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by the DRDO and the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
It is named after the amalgamation of two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
Here are some of the basic details of BrahMos:
Type: Supersonic cruise missile
Range: Up to 290 km (land and sea launched versions) and 500 km (air-launched version)
Speed: Mach 2.8 to 3.5 , Length: 8.4 meters
Weight: 3.5 tons (land launched), 3 tons (ship launched), 2.55 tons (air launched)
Launcher: Mobile launcher, ship launcher, Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft
Guidance: Inertial navigation system, Global Positioning System (GPS), terrain contour matching (TERCOM)
BrahMos is one of the fastest missiles in the world and is considered to be a potent weapon system.
It is capable of launching from land, sea, and air platforms, making it a versatile missile for the Indian Armed Forces.
INS Jatayu
INS Jatayu is a recently upgraded naval base in the Lakshadweep Islands, India.
On March 6, 2024, the Naval Detachment Minicoy was officially commissioned as INS Jatayu, signifying a pivotal moment for the Indian Navy's commitment to strengthening security infrastructure in the strategic region.
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