India Shelves INS Baaz Expansion, Clears Way for Galathea Bay Airport

India has shelved plans to expand INS Baaz, the Navy’s air station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, clearing the way for construction of a civilian airport at Galathea Bay, according to officials familiar with the decision.

The move represents a strategic recalibration of infrastructure priorities in India’s eastern maritime zone. INS Baaz, commissioned in 1988, has served as a critical forward operating base for naval aviation operations across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Region.

The air station currently operates a mix of maritime patrol aircraft, including Dornier turboprops and Boeing P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime reconnaissance platforms. It supports naval operations spanning anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and air defence roles.

The Andaman and Nicobar Command, India’s only tri-service unified command, has long faced infrastructure constraints in the strategically vital archipelago. INS Baaz expansion would have enhanced operational reach and sortie generation capacity for naval aviation units deployed in the eastern theatre.

Galathea Bay, located within the Union Territory, offers an alternative civilian aviation hub capable of serving both commercial and strategic transport requirements. The airport development aligns with India’s broader infrastructure modernisation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which has assumed greater importance given regional maritime dynamics and China’s expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean.

The decision to prioritise the civilian airport reflects a pragmatic allocation of limited resources across competing military and civil aviation needs. Civilian airport infrastructure can support dual-use operations when required, enabling flexibility in crisis scenarios while reducing the operational burden on dedicated naval facilities.

INS Baaz will continue to operate existing facilities and maintain its role in regional maritime security architecture. The Navy’s operational capability in the Andaman and Nicobar region remains underpinned by the air station’s P-8I fleet and coordinated operations with other Eastern Naval Command assets positioned across the eastern coastline.

The shelving of the expansion does not diminish India’s commitment to enhancing maritime domain awareness and naval aviation reach in the Indian Ocean Region. The service continues to induct advanced platforms and upgrade existing bases to counter emerging maritime threats and maintain operational superiority across vital sea lanes.