[2] It overlooks the Strait of Malacca as well as the Six Degree channel between Great Nicobar and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

[3] INS Baaz was commissioned by the then-Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma on 31 July 2012.

The commissioning of the air station will facilitate positioning of maritime reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and also facilitate the civil administration to operate regular intra-island sorties.

INS Baaz will initially be used as a base for the Indian Navy's Dornier 228 reconnaissance aircraft.

Its runway measures 3,500 feet (1,100 m) and will be progressively lengthened to enable all heavy aircraft to operate from the base.