New Delhi is planning a new strategic maritime facility for nuclear submarines and other warships on its southeast coast

India plans to commission a new naval base for nuclear submarines and other warships on its southeast coast next year, according to a report by the Times of India.

The strategic base, which will be located near the village of Rambilli, about 50 km (31 miles) south of the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, will have underground pens and a network of tunnels to house nuclear submarines.

The first phase of the Rambilli base is nearing completion. After its inauguration in 2026, the base will be expanded and upgraded in phases, similar to an installation in Karwar in the southern state of Karnataka.

Work on the nuclear submarine base began over a decade ago. It has overcome numerous technological, environmental, and other challenges.

A source quoted in the Times of India report said the inner harbor was ready, and work on the outer harbor, including the construction of breakwaters and jetties, is currently in progress.

Additionally, India is expected to commission its third nuclear submarine, the INS Aridhaman, which is equipped with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, later this year. The INS Aridhaman has a displacement of 7,000 tons and is slightly larger than the two operational SSBNs, the INS Arihant and the INS Arighat.

In October of last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal to construct two nuclear-powered conventional strike submarines in India, with a budget of over $5 billion, as reported by India Today.

India has been enhancing its naval capabilities, and on Saturday, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an operational, repair, and logistics facility In Karwar, constructed under Project Seabird and valued at over $250 million.

The inauguration was timed to coincide with India's National Maritime Day. In a post on X, Singh said the day was a reminder of how vital India's maritime domain was, not just for India's security, but for fostering harmony and growth across the region.

"We ensure that the nation's interests are protected without compromising their sovereignty," Singh said, adding, "As India enhances its presence in the IOR, it also enhances the security of our friendly nations."

With the completion of this phase of Project Seabird, the Karwar base will be able to berth 32 major warships and submarines, according to the Times of India report. Last week, Russian and Indian warships completedjoint exercisesin the Bay of Bengal as part of Indra 2025 naval drills.

(RT.com)