India is nearing completion of its most advanced military project to date—INS Varsha, an underground nuclear submarine base near Rambilli, Andhra Pradesh—designed to outmaneuver Chinese surveillance and fortify its strategic dominance in the Bay of Bengal.

At a Glance

India is building a $3.7 billion underground base for nuclear submarines near Rambilli, Andhra Pradesh

INS Varsha will house India’s next-gen submarine fleet, including the INS Aridhaman

The facility features concealed submarine pens for stealth launches and second-strike capability

Project is a direct counter to China’s expanding maritime presence in the Indian Ocean

Complementary expansions at INS Kadamba (Karwar) reinforce India’s two- coast naval strategy