Key Highlights
- Three vessels – INS Sujata, INS Shardel and ICGS Veera – docked at Changi on 6 February 2025 as part of a long‑range training deployment.
- The visit re‑established a bilateral engagement that began with a similar stop‑over in October 2023.
- India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Dr Shilpak Ambule, inspected the ships and addressed the trainee sailors on Indo‑Pacific security.
- Joint professional exchanges, cross‑training sessions and friendly sports matches were conducted with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
- The mission underscores India’s commitment to the SAGAR doctrine and to regional maritime stability.
Detailed Insights
The First Training Squadron (1TS) – composed of the patrol vessel INS Sujata, the frigate INS Shardel and the coast‑guard cutter ICGS Veera – arrived at Changi Naval Base on 6 February 2025. 1TS is on a scheduled long‑range training deployment aimed at sharpening operational proficiency and deepening cooperation with Southeast Asian navies. During the port call, Dr Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, toured the ships, met the Sea Trainees, and reiterated New Delhi’s role in maintaining a free and open Indo‑Pacific.
Senior officers of 1TS, together with the commanding officers of each vessel, held talks with Colonel Rinson Chua Hon Liat, Commander of Maritime Training and Doctrine (MTDC) of the RSN. The discussions covered shared challenges in maritime domain awareness, anti‑piracy operations and the implementation of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy.
Beyond diplomatic dialogue, the squads engaged in practical interoperability exercises: officers exchanged best practices, crews participated in cross‑training drills, and sporting events such as football and badminton fostered camaraderie. These activities are designed to translate strategic intent into tangible, on‑deck cooperation.
Key Concepts
- SAGAR: India’s strategic framework that promotes security, economic growth and collaborative development across the Indian Ocean region.
- Long‑Range Training Deployment: An extended seafaring exercise that pairs operational training with diplomatic outreach in foreign ports.
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): The comprehensive understanding of anything and everything that takes place on the seas, essential for effective maritime security.
- Interoperability: The ability of naval forces from different nations to operate together seamlessly through shared procedures, communication protocols and equipment.