According to the Navy Chief, the facility is extremely important not only for the Indian Navy but also for the maritime security and strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region. India on Wednesday inaugurated a new naval base, INS Jatayu, at Minicoy in the Lakshadweep Islands. , is expanding its military reach and presence in the vast Indian Ocean. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar hailed the new base as a significant boost to the Navy's operational capabilities in a strategic maritime expanse that poses a number of challenges. 

An airport and jetty are among the operational facilities to be built at the new facility, the second in Lakshadweep, and more of the Navy's assets will be housed there, according to Kumar. A giant bird from the Hindu epic Ramayana is the source of the base's name.

According to Kumar at Minicoy, the opening of the new facility is extremely important for the Indian Navy as well as for the country's maritime security and strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region.

As an example of "service to self", Jatayu was a "first responder" in the Ramayana, risking his life to prevent Sita's abduction. The unit's name, Jatayu, is a fitting tribute to its commitment to security, monitoring and selfless dedication. At the commissioning, Kumar stated, "Jatayu's information to Lord Rama gave him vital situational awareness leading to the successful search that followed."

“To protect our national interests in the farthest seas, INS Jatayu in the West in Minicoy and INS Baaz in the East in the Andamans will act as the eyes and ears of the Navy and the country, whatever the challenge and the person who presents it. In commissioning Jataya, we must recognize the critical need for increased monitoring in light of current geopolitical developments that highlight the strategic importance of Lakshadweep to India. Piracy, crime and maritime terror are on the rise in the Indian Ocean region.