Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews infrastructural development at Karwar “Sea Bird” Naval Base – conducts an aerial survey

Karwar : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the country’s largest naval infrastructure project — Project Seabird at Karwar Naval Base.
He conducted an aerial survey at India’s premier naval base in Karwar. This naval base is important for the navy’s future operations on the western front..
“This (Karwar Naval base) should be Asia’s biggest Naval base. I will try to raise the budget as well,” he tweeted later.
Both the projects are extremely critical for Indian Navy’s capabilities and strategy in future.
The first phase of the naval base called Operation Seabird was completed in 2005 and the second phase started in 2011. A 3,000 feet long runway, docking space for 30 warships, hangars for aircraft are part of the Rs 19,000 core project spread over 11,000 acres of land.
The Indian Navy is at present expanding the naval base and once it is fully developed, it will be one of the largest bases in Asia.

At Kochi, he will review construction of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which has faced many delays since work started on it in 2009.
An additional aircraft carrier is key in wake of growing Chinese forays in the Indian Ocean Region. While INS Vikrant awaits completion even after 11 years since work on it started, China’s first indigenous carrier was commissioned in 2018 within 3 years of starting construction. India currently has INS Vikaramditya as the only operational aircraft carrier while INS Vikrant is under construction and the Indian Navy has been pressing for the third one but faces resistance from the government and military planners, sources said.
Vikrant is in an advanced stage and is expected to sea trials soon and be fully ready by later 2022 or early 2023, the Naval sources said.

After Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Virat was decommissioned, it is left with one functional carrier.
Rajnath Singh later addressed the Naval Officers and Sailors. He said that he was delighted to see this Sea Bird Karwar Naval Base and he was sure that it will become Asia’s largest Naval Base.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Harikumar, Engineer chief Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh, Flying Officer Rear Admiral Mahesh, Admiral Superintendent of Yard Karwar Rear Admiral Goswamy, other Naval officers and sailors were present.