The Indian Navy demonstrated its growing prowess in submarine rescue operations during Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR-25), hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) from September 15–25, 2025. The Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit (East), embarked on INS Nistar, successfully executed multiple international rescue operations, marking a significant milestone in India’s submarine rescue journey.
Over three successive days, India’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Tiger X achieved three successful matings with foreign submarines — including the Republic of Korea Navy’s Shin Dol-Seok (S-082) and RSN’s RSS Invincible. This included the Indian DSRV’s first-ever dive outside the Indian Ocean Region, establishing India among the front-runners in global submarine rescue capability.
The exercise featured participation from over 40 nations and was conducted in two phases: a shore phase in Singapore, which included professional exchanges and an international medical symposium, and a sea phase in the South China Sea, where live rescue drills were carried out.
The highlight came on September 25, when a multinational three-asset rescue drill (R3) was executed for the first time in Pacific Reach history. INS Nistar played a central role, localising and surveying the distressed submarine before India’s remotely operated vehicle and DSRV were deployed, achieving successful mating within an hour.
The Indian Navy’s performance at XPR-25 underscored its professionalism, technological capabilities, and commitment to international submarine safety. The participation not only reinforced India’s readiness for complex rescue missions but also strengthened interoperability with global navies.