In a significant strategic development, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed the establishment of an advanced air defence radar centre in Chaliyam, located in the northern district of Kozhikode, Kerala. The facility, part of a larger effort to fortify India’s air defence infrastructure, is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing surveillance and early warning capabilities across the southern region and the Arabian Sea.
The proposed site, a 40-acre land parcel currently under the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH), is situated opposite the Beypore Port. It is flanked by the Chaliyar river to the north, the Kadalundi river to the south, and the Conolly Canal to the east. NIRDESH, a near-defunct institution under the Ministry of Defence, has seen little activity in recent years, making the land available for strategic repurposing.
Once operational, the air defence centre will house state-of-the-art radar systems capable of detecting a wide array of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. These systems will integrate into the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which serves as the nerve centre for India’s air defence operations, linking radar nodes across the country into a real-time surveillance and response grid.
The timing of this move is notable, coming amid growing concerns over China’s expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Beijing’s increasing presence, particularly in Sri Lanka, where it holds a long-term lease on Hambantota Port and is reportedly exploring the possibility of an airbase, has raised alarm bells in New Delhi. These developments are seen as part of China’s broader strategy to establish dual-use infrastructure across the IOR, capable of supporting both commercial and military objectives.
The Kozhikode radar installation is part of India’s broader push to reinforce its layered air defence network along key coastal regions. Southern India, traditionally less vulnerable to land-based incursions, is gaining strategic prominence due to its proximity to vital sea lanes and increasing maritime activity. The radar facility is expected to provide 360-degree coverage of the southern airspace, thereby strengthening deterrence and enhancing India’s capacity for rapid threat detection and response.
Defence analysts view the move as indicative of a larger doctrinal shift within India’s military establishment, from reactive defence to pre-emptive situational awareness and denial strategies. The focus is on building a robust anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) shield to safeguard India’s maritime borders and strategic interests amid escalating geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s surveillance efforts have intensified in recent years, particularly in response to the frequent deployment of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, dual-use research ships, and economic infrastructure projects in the region. The planned radar centre in Kerala will add a critical node to the IAF’s southern surveillance grid, enhancing coordination between air, naval, and ground forces.
The project underscores India’s resolve to counter emerging threats in its maritime neighbourhood and reassert strategic dominance in the face of shifting power dynamics in the region.
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