Panaji: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday commissioned INS Vajrakosh, the latest Indian Navy establishment at Karwar base, which will handle missiles and ammunition.
INS Vajrakosh will be a special storage and servicing facility for missiles as well as armaments for naval ships operating off the Karwar coast.
Speaking on the occasion, Parrikar emphasised the importance of a strong and modern navy and exhorted the crew to ensure that missiles at INS Vajrakosh remain "ever ready" for operational deployment.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan noted that Karwar is poised to emerge as Navy's most significant base on the western seaface in near future.
"This establishment has some of the most significant naval assets already in service or being inducted. With the ongoing expansion of the Indian Navy, there has been increase in the number of ships, submarines and aircraft equipped with specialised armament and missiles. These need to be maintained in the best possible manner throughout their service life," he said.
On the sidelines of the event, Parrikar felicitated fishermen who were instrumental in saving an unconscious pilot of a Dornier (DO 240) aircraft which had crashed off Goa on March 24, 2015.
