New Delhi : The Navy will set up a new base at Haldia in West Bengal in a bid to enhance India’s maritime presence in the northern Bay of Bengal region amid rising Chinese naval activity and evolving regional security dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan. The naval base will leverage the existing Haldia dock complex, allowing the Navy to rapidly operationalise the facility with minimal additional infrastructure.
The Haldia base is expected to host Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) and the 300-tonne New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (NWJFACs). These high-speed platforms, capable of speeds of up to 40–45 knots, are designed for quick-response maritime operations. They are armed with CRN-91 guns and are likely to be equipped with loitering munition capabilities such as the Nagastra system, enhancing their precision strike and surveillance roles.
The shallow waters and dense maritime traffic near the India-Bangladesh coastline make fast, agile platforms particularly effective for deterrence and interception. The Haldia base assumes added importance amid China’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and Beijing’s deepening defence and infrastructure engagement with Bangladesh, alongside its long-standing military partnership with Pakistan.
The new base will be relatively compact, with an estimated strength of around 100 officers and sailors, suggesting it won’t be a full-fledged command. Its location — approximately 100 km from Kolkata — offers a strategic advantage by providing direct access to the Bay of Bengal while avoiding the time-consuming transit via the River Hooghly. Officials said while the land was previously earmarked for the Haldia base, construction was pending for some time.
The move also aligns with the Navy’s broader expansion plans. In 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the procurement of 120 Fast Interceptor Crafts and 31 NWJFACs. These vessels, typically around 100 tonnes in displacement, can carry 10–12 personnel and are suited for coastal patrol, anti-infiltration missions, harbour defence, and special operations.
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