NEW DELHI (Agencies): India is set to commission a new naval base designed to house nuclear submarines and other warships near the southeastern village of Rambilli in 2026, according to a report by the Times of India. The facility marks a significant step in bolstering India’s maritime security and strategic deterrence in the Indian Ocean region.
Located around 50 kilometers south of the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, the Rambilli base—known internally as “INS Varsha”—will feature underground pens and a network of tunnels to securely shelter nuclear-powered submarines. The first phase of the base is nearly complete, with work on the outer harbor, breakwaters, and jetties currently underway.
This strategic project, over a decade in the making, has faced and overcome multiple technological and environmental hurdles. Following its inauguration in 2026, the base will undergo expansion in phases, similar to India’s naval facility in Karwar, Karnataka.
The move aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen its naval capabilities amid rising regional maritime competition. Alongside the Rambilli development, India is expected to commission its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the INS Aridhaman, later this year. The 7,000-ton vessel will be slightly larger and more advanced than its predecessors, the INS Arihant and INS Arighat.
In October 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a $5 billion initiative to construct two additional nuclear-powered conventional strike submarines, reinforcing India’s focus on indigenous defense manufacturing.
In a related development, India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new operational, repair, and logistics facility at the Karwar naval base on Saturday. Built under Project Seabird at a cost of over $250 million, the upgraded facility can now berth up to 32 major warships and submarines. The inauguration coincided with National Maritime Day, emphasizing India’s commitment to regional maritime security and economic integration.
In a post on X, Singh stated that India’s maritime domain is not only vital for national defense but also for fostering regional peace and prosperity.
Meanwhile, India continues to deepen naval cooperation with strategic partners. Last week, Indian and Russian warships wrapped up Indra 2025 joint exercises in the Bay of Bengal, underscoring New Delhi’s growing naval engagement on the international stage.