Shenna87P79423 at 05:23, 3 December 2025

2025-12-03T05:23:54Z

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{{Short description|Indian naval base}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = INS Jatayu
| native_name =
| partof =
| location = [[Minicoy]], [[Lakshadweep Islands]]
| image =
| image_size = 150px
| caption = [[Emblem]] of INS '''Jatayu'''
| pushpin_map = India Lakshadweep#India
| pushpin_label = '''INS Jatayu'''
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of INS Jatayu
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| type = Naval station
| coordinates = {{coord|8.271900|N|73.021280|E|region:IN_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| code =
| built = {{Start date|2024}}
| builder =
| materials =
| height =
| used = 2024–present
| demolished =
| condition = Active
| ownership =
| open_to_public = no
| controlledby = [[Indian Navy]]
| garrison =
| current_commander = [[Commander]] Sudhanshu Bhardwaj
| commanders =
| occupants = [[Southern Naval Command]]
| battles =
| events =
| image2 =
| caption2 =
}}

'''INS Jatayu''' is a [[naval base]] of the [[Southern Naval Command]] of the [[Indian Navy]] located on [[Minicoy]] island in the [[Lakshadweep]] archipelago. It was commissioned on 6 March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2 March 2024 |title=Navy to commission a new base INS Jatayu on Minicoy Island on March 6 |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/navy-to-commission-a-new-base-ins-jatayu-on-minicoy-island-on-march-6/article67907217.ece |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
Positioned on the southernmost island of Lakshadweep, Minicoy is located between 8° 15’ to 8° 20’ N and 73° 01’ to 73° 05 E and spans 4.4 square km, including [[Viringili (Maliku Atoll)|Viringili atoll]]. It is an autonomous oceanic island separated from the rest of Lakshadweep by the [[Nine Degree Channel]] and from the [[Maldives]] by the [[Eight Degree Channel]], which overlooks crucial [[sea lines of communication|Sea Lines of Communication]] (SLOC).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=86ffAAAAMAAJ&dq=Minicoy+Island+between+9+Degree+channel+and+8+degree+channel&pg=PA104 |title=Sailing Directions (enroute) for India and the Bay of Bengal |date=2002 |publisher=[[Defense Mapping Agency]], Hydrographic Center, [[National Imagery and Mapping Agency]] |edition=7th |pages=104 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kulshrestha |first1=Sanatan |last2=Guhathakurta |first2=Rahul |title=Proactive Defense Infrastructure Planning of Indian Island Territories |url=https://www.indrastra.com/2016/04/ANALYSIS-Proactive-Defense-Infrastructure-Planning-of-Indian-Island-Territories-Lakshadweep-Minicoy-Suheli-Par-002-04-2016-0015.html |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=IndraStra Global |language=en |issn=2381-3652 |oclc=923297365}}</ref> To boost its role in India's maritime security, in the early 1980s, a Naval Detachment Minicoy was established under the operational command of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2 March 2024 |title=INDIAN NAVY TO ENHANCE ITS OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY WITH COMMISSIONING OF INS JATAYU AT MINICOY ISLAND (LAKSHADWEEP) |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2010884 |access-date=2 March 2024 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Deshpande |first=Smruti |date=3 March 2024 |title=Navy to enhance operational capability with commissioning of INS Jatayu at Lakshadweep's Minicoy Island |url=https://theprint.in/defence/navy-to-enhance-operational-capability-with-commissioning-of-ins-jatayu-at-lakshadweeps-minicoy-island/1986629/ |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2024, the detachment was elevated to a naval base to support the Indian Navy's operations concerning [[Anti-piracy measures|anti-piracy]] and anti-narcotics domains in the [[Arabian Sea]]. The base was equipped with requisite infrastructure and resources. INS Jatayu is the second naval base in Lakshadweep after [[INS Dweeprakshak]]. The base will function under Nava Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep), [[Southern Naval Command]].<ref name=":0" /> The first Commanding Officer of the independent naval unit is [[Commander]] Vrat Baghel. Maritime Operations Center at Minicoy was also inaugurated after commissioning the base.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 March 2024 |title=INDIAN NAVY COMMISSIONS INS JATAYU AT MINICOY, STRENGTHENING FOOTHOLD IN LAKSHADWEEP ISLAND |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2012143 |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}</ref>

According to the reports, the base is expected to provide comparable capabilities in the Arabian Sea, mirroring the role of [[INS Baaz]] located in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] in the eastern region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Negi |first=Manjeet |title=New Navy base in Lakshadweep soon for 'better coverage of Indian Ocean' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ins-jatayu-navy-lakshadweep-vikrant-vikramaditya-minicoy-indian-ocean-2508922-2024-03-01 |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Indian Air Force]] is also building an [[air base]] on the island to support the operations from here as of December 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajwi |first=Tiki |date=2025-12-02 |title=Military presence in Lakshadweep to go up with new naval detachment on Bitra: Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/military-presence-in-lakshadweep-to-go-up-with-new-naval-detachment-on-bitra-and-air-force-expansion-vice-admiral-sameer-saxena/article70348966.ece |access-date=2025-12-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{authority control}}

{{Indian Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jatayu}}
[[Category:Indian Navy bases|Jatayu]]
[[Category:2024 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 2024]]

INS Jatayu - Revision history

Shenna87P79423 at 05:23, 3 December 2025