INS Nistar makes maiden port call in Singapore, to join multinational submarine rescue exercise

Singapore, September 15. India’s indigenously built diving support vessel, INS Nistar, arrived at Changi, Singapore, on September 14 for its first overseas deployment. The vessel will take part in the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR 25), a major submarine rescue drill hosted by Singapore from September 15, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

Commissioned in July this year, INS Nistar is the latest addition to the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and a milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with over 80 percent indigenous content. Equipped with side scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and advanced deep-sea diving systems, the ship will serve as the mothership for the Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).

India inducted two DSRVs in 2018-19, one for each seaboard, making it among a select group of countries with dedicated submarine rescue capabilities. These systems can be deployed on vessels of opportunity or airlifted to distant seas for rapid response. For XPR 25, the Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East) will operate from INS Nistar during the sea phase of the exercise in the South China Sea.

Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 will see the participation of over 40 nations, either as participants or observers. The week-long harbour phase will include discussions on submarine rescue procedures, subject matter expert exchanges, medical symposiums, and cross-deck visits. The subsequent sea phase will feature joint intervention and rescue operations involving INS Nistar, SRU (East), and other international assets.

The exercise is aimed at fostering best practices, strengthening interoperability, and enhancing the global network of submarine rescue operations.