To counter China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India is going to upgrade its airstrips at INS Kohassa, Shibpur located in the north Andaman, and at the Campbell strip in Nicobar into full-fledged fighter bases, the Hindustan Times reported.
Lakshadweep is also set to be upgraded for military operations and this will help secure the Arabian Sea up to the Gulf of Aden. Also, plans are afoot for the elevation of the airstrips in Andaman and Nicobar islands into full-fledged fighter bases. This will allow India to secure the Bay of Bengal up to the Malacca Straits.
The idea to develop airbases in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands is to give the Indian military the facilities of an aircraft carrier. This will allow extending the reach of the Indian Navy in areas far away from the mainland Indian coastline.
Both the island are strategically located on the busiest sea lanes of the world with more than half of the world’s trade passing through them. This will also help India secure the freedom to navigate without any restrictions before China starts to assert its claims in this region as well.