It’s official! INS Jatayu is commissioned

financialexpress.com:

To boost its operational capabilities within the strategically important Lakshadweep islands, the Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its new base “INS Jatayu” at Minicoy Island.

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar commissioned the new base at a function at Minicoy, Lakshadweep, it is under the command of Commandant Vrat Baghel.

Speaking at Minicoy following the commissioning of INS Jatayu, the navy chief underscored the significance of the unit’s namesake, a mythical figure from the Ramayana who valiantly attempted to thwart Sita’s abduction.

He underlined the ethos of selfless service embodied by Jatayu and its relevance to the unit’s mission of providing security and surveillance. He talked about the pivotal role played by Jatayu in providing crucial intelligence to Lord Ram, drawing parallels to the unit’s mandate of enhancing maritime domain awareness in the region.

He said it was crucial to recognise the pressing need for heightened surveillance amidst the prevailing geopolitical developments, which underscores the strategic significance of Lakshadweep to India.

“The Indian Ocean region is witnessing an upsurge in maritime terror, crime, and piracy. TheIndian 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,” he said.

<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#IndianNavy

Commissions <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSJatayu?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#INSJatayu at Minicoy, the southernmost island of Lakshadweep.
Another step towards Navy’s efforts to incrementally augment security infrastructure at the strategically important islands.