On Wednesday 19 October 2022 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a new airbase in Deesa near India Pakistan border which will be very crucial for India’s security.
Country’s security is a matter of serious concern and the government of India has been taking wonderful initiatives to enhance the security by effective border control and protection methods and fulfilling different objectives alongwith. For instance with the inauguration of a new airbase in Deesa in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat near the western border of the country and the Defence Expo encouraging the idea of Self Reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) have been different steps in the right direction.
In today’s era international security in global trade and maritime security have emerged as a serious concern which was fulfilled by the launch of SSBN ; the ballistic missiles which can be launched from submarines. India successfully tested the launch of these indigenously developed missiles from INS Arihant. In this sequence the inauguration of an airbase filling the void between the Phalodi and Bhuj airbase is a very strategic step.
The airbase can be instrumental in covering the south west sector of the western region , in case of a major terror strike , it will aid the retaliation of our country against any unexpected invasion. It was sanctioned in 2000 but could not be built in process. It was after the floods in 2017 in Banaskantha which kick started the project. The Indian air force was deployed to provide relief to the flood prone areas, during the rescue and relief operation in the bad weather the need of an additional airbase in Gujarat was felt.
The approval was sought by the then Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a funding of 1000 crore for this project. This airbase will provide a faster offensive support to the Indian air force in this sector. It will also bridge the tactical gap between the airbases of Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat and Phalodi in Rajasthan.
The Deesa airbase will act as a firewall for any enemy aircraft flying from Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Jacobabad etc as the targets can be the economic corridor of Gujarat from Ahmedabad to Surat and other flourishing industrial areas.This will also make the Pakistani city of Karachi, Hyderabad etc vulnerable with its very deep penetration strike aircraft.
The airforce will station its Air defence fighters like the MIG-25 , Tejas in order to intercept the enemy fighters with a quick retaliation and neutralising their attack. Furthermore this airbase is expected to be operational in 2024 it will be a huge boost to the Indian defence system and planning of strategies in times of a sudden attack.
