New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East) established India’s position in the global submarine rescue arena by achieving three successful matings with international submarines at the recently concluded XPR-25 in Singapore.
Over 40 nations participated in the exercise, hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and aimed at greater collaboration in saving lives in case of disasters in submarines. India participated with INS Nistar – a Diving Support Vessel (DSV) – carrying the country’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
During the exercise, three rescue units on Mother Ships — MV Swift Rescue (Singapore), JS Chiyoda (Japan) and INS Nistar — operated alongside submarines from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and RSN. These submarines were simulated as Disabled Submarines (DISSUBs).
According to the Indian Navy, the Indian DSRV Tiger X undertook its maiden dive outside the Indian Ocean Region on September 23, achieving a historic first mating with ROK Navy’s Submarine Shin Dol-Seok (S-082). The Indian DSRV achieved another milestone by mating with RSN’s submarine RSS Invincible.
“The culminating event on 25 Sep 2025 featured a coordinated rescue drill led by the RSN. This was the first three-asset (R3) rescue in the history of the exercise. INS Nistar spearheaded operations, localising and surveying the datum and passing requisite information to MV Swift Rescue and JS Chiyoda. With RSS Invincible simulating the distressed submarine, India’s ROV and Indian Navy DSRV were deployed in rapid succession, achieving mating within one hour of the dive,” an official said.
“The performance highlighted the Indian Navy’s exceptional proficiency and contributed substantially to the successful conduct of the multinational coordinated R3 rescue – a first for Exercise Pacific series,” he added.
Submarine disasters can be deadly. In 2021, the Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala was lost with 53 crew members on board. In 2017, the Argentine Navy lost ARA San Juan with a 44-member crew. In 2000, nearly 118 sailors were killed in an accident involving the Russian submarine Kursk.
