Singapore hosts a multinational submarine rescue exercise with over 40 nations; INS Nistar makes its first overseas deployment.
Singapore, 16 September 2025 – The Indian Navy’s newest Diving Support Vessel (DSV), INS Nistar, is currently participating in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR 25) in the South China Sea, following its maiden port call at Changi Naval Base on 14 September. The biennial exercise, hosted by Singapore, commenced on 15 September and brings together more than 40 nations as participants or observers.
Commissioned on 18 July 2025, INS Nistar is India’s first indigenously designed and constructed DSV, achieving over 80 per cent indigenisation. The ship, equipped with Side Scan Sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and deep-sea diving systems, is operating as the mothership for India’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
India inducted two DSRVs in 2018–19, one each for the eastern and western seaboards, joining an elite group of countries with dedicated submarine rescue systems. For XPR 25, the Submarine Rescue Unit (East) is operating from INS Nistar, engaging in multiple intervention and rescue operations alongside partner navies.
The exercise is divided into two phases: the harbour phase featuring professional exchanges, medical symposiums, and cross-deck visits, and the ongoing sea phase, which includes joint submarine rescue drills aimed at enhancing interoperability and best practices in undersea rescue.
A senior Indian Navy officer noted, “INS Nistar’s deployment to Exercise Pacific Reach highlights India’s commitment to regional maritime cooperation and the shared goal of advancing submarine safety.”
INS Nistar’s participation underscores India’s growing capability in self-reliant shipbuilding and its role in strengthening collective security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Source: HCI Singapore
