The Indian Navy is poised to establish a new naval base at Haldia, West Bengal, to enhance its maritime presence in the northern Bay of Bengal. This strategic move comes amid increasing Chinese naval activity and evolving regional security dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The facility will operate as a naval "detachment" focusing on deploying small, fast warships for rapid-response operations. It will leverage the existing Haldia dock complex to expedite operational readiness with minimal additional infrastructure. Initial efforts will include constructing a dedicated jetty and essential shore-support facilities.
The Haldia base is expected to accommodate Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) and 300-tonne New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (NWJFACs). These high-speed platforms, capable of reaching speeds between 40 and 45 knots, are designed for swift interception and coastal security missions. Armed with CRN-91 guns, they are likely to be equipped with loitering munition capabilities like the Nagastra system, enhancing their precision strike and surveillance roles.
The new base will be relatively compact, with an estimated strength of around 100 officers and sailors. Its location, approximately 100 km from Kolkata, offers a strategic advantage by providing direct access to the Bay of Bengal, avoiding the time-consuming transit via the River Hooghly. This allows for faster deployment during contingencies.
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 gains importance due to China's expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and its deepening defense and infrastructure engagement with Bangladesh, alongside its long-standing military partnership with Pakistan. This move also comes amid closer defense ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly after the change in leadership in Bangladesh.
The Haldia detachment will fill a critical geographic gap in the northern Bay of Bengal, close to busy shipping lanes and sensitive coastal areas. The Indian Navy already maintains major facilities on the eastern seaboard, most notably Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command headquarters, and strategic bases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The operational backbone of the new detachment will be reinforced by a major acquisition programme. In 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the Navy's request for 120 FICs and 31 NWJFACs.
