A new station known as “INS Jatayu” was commissioned by the Indian Navy on Wednesday. It is located on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep. The purpose of this installation is to strengthen the Indian Navy's operating capabilities and reach in the strategically crucial Indian Ocean region.
In addition to this, the naval facility will expand the operational reach of the Indian Navy and provide support for its efforts to combat piracy and narcotics in the Western Arabian Sea.
In addition, the Indian Navy's efforts to combat piracy and narcotics in the Western Arabian Sea would be bolstered by the establishment of INS Jatayu, which will be the second naval facility in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
At a ceremony that took place in Minicoy, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar officially initiated the construction of the second naval facility in Lakshadweep. An administrator from Lakshadweep named Praful Patel, the Chief Vice Admiral of the Southern Naval Command named V Srinivas, and the Chief Vice Admiral of the Western Naval Command named Sanjay J Singh were all present at the occasion.
During a meeting that took place after the commissioning of the Indian Navy ship Jatayu, the Navy Chief stated that the base was named after Jatayu, who is a legendary beast from the epic Ramayana that unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Sita from being kidnapped.
As an example of putting service before one's self, Jatayu was the “first responder” in the Ramayana. He was the one who attempted to save Sita Ji from being kidnapped, even if it meant putting his own life in danger. “Therefore, the naming of this unit as Jatayu is an appropriate recognition of this spirit of providing security surveillance and selfless service,” Kumar was quoted as saying by the PTI.
The chief of the navy went on to say that the information that Jatayu had communicated to Lord Ram was extremely important for providing situational awareness.
In a similar vein, we anticipate that this unit will be able to offer the Indian Navy situational awareness to maintain a high level of maritime domain awareness throughout the whole region. Both the INS Baaz, which is located in the Andaman Islands, and the INS Jatayu, which is located in the western region, will act as eyes and ears for the Navy to protect our national interest, as Kumar explained.
The INS Jatayu will assist in the fight against piracy and other security challenges.
The chief of the Navy stated that it was of the utmost importance to acknowledge the urgent requirement for increased monitoring in light of the ongoing geopolitical developments, which highlights the strategic significance of Lakshadweep to India.
Terrorism, criminal activity, and piracy on the high seas are all on the rise in the region surrounding the Indian Ocean. “The Indian Navy has responded with an assertive posture in the west and north Arabian Sea, undertaking anti-drone, anti-missile, and anti-piracy operations to safeguard merchant traffic in the region,” the naval head in the region was quoted as saying by the PTI.
Terrorism, criminal activity, and piracy on the high seas are all on the rise in the region surrounding the Indian Ocean. Taking an active stance in the west and north Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has responded by conducting anti-drone, anti-missile, and anti-piracy operations to protect merchant trade in the region, as stated by the chief of the Navy.
Because the island is situated on traditional trade routes, it holds significant strategic importance. As a result of its strategic location, notably Minicoy, it is a spot for gathering information on the movement of vessels, according to what Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep) Captain Lovekesh Thakur was quoted as saying by PTI.
Thakur stated that because the island is located on a significant commerce route, it is of utmost significance for the nation to own a facility that is equipped with better monitoring capabilities. From a fundamental standpoint, it is a beginning point for the construction of a springboard for improved unit deployment.