'Landmark Achievement': India's Submarine Rescue Drill In South China Sea With Precision, Proficiency
India’s Submarine Rescue Systems for the first time displayed its outstanding preparedness in the South China Sea, outside the Indian Ocean region, during a multinational 3-day submarine rescue exercise
XPR-25 hosted by the Singapore Navy.With this exercise, the Indian Navy achieved a rare milestone, showcasing its undersea operations with the successful deployment of its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Tiger X.
The Indian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East), embarked on INS Nistar, showcased precision and professionalism at XPR-25.The exercise, which lasted three successive days, achieved three successful matings with international submarines, demonstrating the full spectrum of intervention and rescue operations and establishing India’s position in the global submarine rescue arena.
3-Day-Long Exercise, 40 Nations in South China Sea
XPR-25, held from 15–25 September 2025, featured participation from over 40 nations.The exercise was conducted in two phases — a shore phase (15–20 September) and a sea phase (21–25 September). The drill was aimed at enhancing coordination and interoperability in submarine rescue.Three rescue units embarked on Mother Ships (MoShip) — MV Swift Rescue (RSN), JS Chiyoda (Japan), and INS Nistar — operated alongside submarines from the Republic of Korea Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and RSN, simulating Disabled Submarines (DISSUBs).
During the shore phase, professional exchanges and an international medical symposium allowed India to present its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) system philosophy and post-rescue medical preparedness.The sea phase in the South China Sea witnessed landmark achievements.On 23 September, the Indian DSRV Tiger X undertook its maiden dive outside the Indian Ocean Region, achieving a historic first mating with the 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 September featured a coordinated rescue drill led by the RSN — the first three-asset (R3) rescue in Pacific Reach history.
INS Nistar spearheaded operations, localising and surveying the datum, passing requisite information to MV Swift Rescue and JS Chiyoda.With RSS Invincible simulating the distressed submarine, India’s ROV and IN DSRV were deployed in rapid succession, achieving mating within one hour of the dive.
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 the Exercise Pacific series.
XPR-25 marked a watershed moment in India’s submarine rescue journey, with the Indian DSRV’s maiden foreign submarine matings and participation in a multinational coordinated rescue drill reinforcing India’s capability and commitment to global submarine safety.
