The navies of South Africa, India, and Brazil have completed Exercise Ibsamar IX 2026 with success. The week-long event was an exercise to greatly enhance joint maritime operations, interoperability and overall maritime security cooperation off the Cape Town coast.
The trilateral exercise, commanded by the Indian Navy, was conducted from 12 October to 20 October, and officially ended at the Indian Navy’s naval base Simon’s Town. The extensive exercise included surface warfare, air defence, maritime interdiction, live firing, and advanced helicopter exercise.
The training was conducted on the theme of “Stronger Together towards a Shared future in the Maritime Domain” with the objective of improving the capacity of the three forces to work together in difficult situations. Joint Task Force Commander Captain Rohit Mishra stated that the importance of the exercise is in strengthening their commitment to ensuring the security of important international shipping routes as well as freedom of navigation.
The operation was broken into two segments: a harbour phase (12–14 October) and intensive sea phase (15–19 October). In the first harbour phase, the crew members went through operational planning, cross-deck familiarisation and communications drills.
This planning was put into practice in the sea phase. A variety of operational serials such as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Piracy Practice (AP), Search & Rescue (SAR) and Visit, Board, Search, Seizure (VBSS) were conducted by the naval contingents.Various operational serials including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Piracy Practice (AP), Search & Rescue (SAR) and Visit, Board, Search, Seizure (VBSS) were conducted by naval contingents. The NISHAR system deployed by the Ministry of Defence of India also played a vital role in enhancing communications by creating a safe real-time command and control platform between all the vessels involved.
The multinational fleet consisted of the Indian Navy guided-missile frigate, INS Tarkash, the Brazilian Navy corvette, BNS Barroso, and some South Africa Navy ships, including the SAS Amatola frigate and the SAS Manthatisi submarine. In addition, aviation assets embarked on all three countries’ Special Forces units, including Chetak, Super Lynx and Oryx helicopters, provided much needed operational depth.\
A significant demonstration of capabilities was held on October 19 as part of Distinguished Visitors’ Day. A simulated VBSS operation was conducted with the three navies with a suspected contraband ship. The operation was capped with a ceremonial sail past to honour General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, under the command of the South African Government.
In his reflections on the operation, Captain Mishra praised the professionalism and dedication of the officers, sailors and aircrews involved. The key to the success of Ibsamar IX is for the individuals involved in the process to bring the knowledge, confidence and sense of collaboration from the global maritime space with them when they return home, he said.
