WATCH: Indian Navy’s INS Nistar executes first submarine rescue ops in South China Sea

The Indian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East), embarked on INS Nistar, demonstrated exceptional precision and professionalism during Exercise XPR-25, a multinational submarine rescue drill hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

Over the course of three consecutive days, the Indian team successfully executed three matings with international submarines under simulated emergency conditions. These complex operations demonstrated the full spectrum of India’s submarine intervention and rescue capabilities.

This was the first time India’s submarine rescue capability was tested outside the Indian Ocean Region.

VIDEO | South China Sea: The Indian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East), embarked on INS Nistar, showcased precision and professionalism at XPR-25, hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Over three successive days, the unit achieved three successful matings with… pic.twitter.com/HC17oeuycV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 1, 2025

“XPR-25, held from 15–25 Sept 2025, featured participation from over 40 nations. Conducted in two phases — a shore phase (15–20 Sep 2025) and a sea phase (21–25 Sep 2025) — the exercise was aimed at enhancing coordination and interoperability in submarine rescue,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“Three rescue units embarked on Mother Ships — MV Swift Rescue (RSN), JS Chiyoda (Japan) and INS Nistar — operated alongside the submarines from the Republic of Korea Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), simulating as Disabled Submarines (DISSUBs),” added the statement.

During the shore phase, India showcased its growing expertise in submarine rescue through professional exchanges and an international medical symposium. These sessions provided a platform for the Indian Navy to present its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) system philosophy and its post-rescue medical preparedness framework.

“The sea phase in the South China Sea witnessed landmark achievements. On 23 Sep 2025, the Indian DSRV Tiger X undertook its maiden dive outside the Indian Ocean Region, achieving a historic first mating with ROK Navy’s Submarine Shin Dol-SeokS-082). The Indian DSRV achieved another milestone by mating with RSN’s submarine RSS Invincible,” the statement read.

The exercise culminated on September 25 with a groundbreaking coordinated rescue drill — the first three-asset (R3) rescue operation in the history of the Pacific Reach series.

Led by the RSN, the complex operation saw INS Nistar spearhead efforts by locating and surveying the datum, then relaying critical information to Singapore’s MV Swift Rescue and Japan’s JS Chiyoda.

With RSS Invincible acting as the distressed submarine, India’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and DSRV were deployed in quick succession, achieving successful mating within one hour of the dive.

The Indian Navy’s rapid and precise execution underscored its growing operational excellence and played a key role in the success of the multinational rescue mission.

Exercise XPR-25 stands as a pivotal moment in India’s submarine rescue journey, marking the Indian DSRV’s first-ever foreign submarine matings and its debut participation in a tri-nation coordinated rescue. These milestones reaffirm India’s commitment to international maritime cooperation and submarine safety.

With inputs from agencies