SOURCE: AFI
In a strategic move to counter China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India is set to commission a new naval base for nuclear submarines and warships in coastal Andhra Pradesh by 2026. The base, located near the small village of Rambilli, approximately 50 km south of the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen its maritime capabilities.
This development, reported by The Times of India on April 7, 2025, coincides with ongoing upgrades to the Karwar naval base in Karnataka, signaling India’s intent to enhance both its eastern and western seaboards amid growing regional security challenges.
The new naval base at Rambilli, developed under Project Varsha, is designed to house India’s growing fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, including nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). The facility features underground pens and a network of tunnels, providing a secure environment for these strategic assets. The first phase of the project is nearing completion, with commissioning expected in 2026, after overcoming significant technological, environmental, and logistical challenges over the past decade. A source cited in the report noted that the inner harbor is ready, while work on the outer harbor, including breakwaters and jetties, is ongoing, with plans for future expansion and upgrades.
The strategic significance of the Rambilli base cannot be overstated. Positioned on India’s eastern seaboard, it enhances the Indian Navy’s operational reach in the Bay of Bengal and the broader IOR, a region increasingly contested due to China’s naval forays. The base will serve as a hub for India’s SSBNs, which form the underwater leg of the country’s nuclear triad, ensuring a credible second-strike capability. This is particularly critical given India’s “no first use” nuclear policy, which relies on survivable and stealthy platforms to deter potential adversaries. The proximity to Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command, also facilitates seamless coordination and logistics for long-range submarine patrols.
The commissioning of the Rambilli base aligns with India’s ambitious plans to expand its nuclear submarine fleet. The report highlights the upcoming induction of INS Aridhaman, India’s third SSBN, expected early next year. With a displacement of 7,000 tonnes, INS Aridhaman is slightly larger than its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, and can carry more K-4 nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles with a strike range of 3,500 km. A fourth SSBN is also under construction as part of the secretive ?90,000 crore Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. Looking further ahead, India plans to build 13,500-tonne SSBNs equipped with more powerful 190 MW pressurized light-water reactors, a significant upgrade from the 83 MW reactors in the current fleet.
In addition to SSBNs, India is advancing its SSN program. In October 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the construction of two 9,800-tonne nuclear-powered attack submarines for ?40,000 crore, with plans to eventually build six SSNs. Unlike SSBNs, which are designed for nuclear deterrence, SSNs are armed with conventional weapons for tasks such as anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and supporting carrier battle groups. The construction of these SSNs at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam will not only bolster India’s naval power but also provide a significant economic boost to local MSMEs.
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