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IBSAMAR IX 2026 Concludes in South Africa
What’s the News?
The 9th edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR IX 2026) concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa, bringing together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa.
The 10-day trilateral naval exercise, led by India, aimed to enhance maritime interoperability, operational cooperation and mutual understanding among the three navies.
- Indian Participation: INS Tarkash, a guided-missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.
- Theme: Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain.
Highlights of IBSAMAR IX 2026
The exercise comprised two phases:
- Harbour Phase:
- Professional exchanges, joint operational planning and communication training.
- Cross-deck familiarisation and interactions among naval personnel.
- Sea Phase:
- Surface warfare, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare drills.
- Maritime interdiction, anti-piracy operations and helicopter operations.
- Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue (SAR), damage control and firefighting exercises.
About Exercise IBSAMAR
- Full Form: India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise.
- Inception: 2008.
- Frequency: Biennial (every two years).
- Participants: Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy and South African Navy.
- Framework: Conducted under the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum.
- Objectives:
- Strengthen maritime security and naval cooperation.
- Enhance interoperability through joint maritime operations.
- Promote safe, secure and open seas under a rules-based maritime order.
Additional Info
- Participating Naval Assets:
- India: INS Tarkash with a Chetak helicopter.
- Brazil: BNS Barroso, a corvette equipped with a Lynx helicopter.
- South Africa: SAS Amatola (frigate), SAS King Sekhukhune I and SAS Adam Kok III (patrol vessels), and SAS Manthatisi (submarine).
- IBSA Dialogue Forum:
- Established in 2003 through the Brasília Declaration.
- A trilateral cooperation platform comprising India, Brazil and South Africa.
- Focuses on South-South cooperation, development and reform of global governance institutions.