IBSAMAR IX kicks off in Cape Town: INS Tarkash leads India-Brazil-South Africa drill
Synopsis
India is leading the ninth IBSAMAR trilateral naval exercise off South Africa's West Coast from 12 to 22 October 2026, with INS Tarkash at the helm. The drill spans anti-submarine warfare, VBSS, anti-piracy, and search-and-rescue — a signal of deepening Indian Ocean security cooperation among three of the Global South's largest navies.
Key Takeaways
INS Tarkash arrived at Simon's Town, South Africa on 11 October 2026 , kicking off IBSAMAR IX .
The exercise runs from 12 to 22 October 2026 , with South Africa as host and India as lead nation.
Participating assets include SAS Amatola , SAS Manthatisi (submarine), BNS Barroso (with Lynx helicopter), and INS Tarkash (with Chetak helicopter).
IBSAMAR has been conducted biennially since 2008 under the IBSA framework — this is the ninth edition .
The exercise theme is 'Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain' , focused on Indian Ocean Region security.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tarkash arrived at Simon's Town, South Africa on 11 October 2026, formally launching the ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) Exercise. The trilateral naval drill, running from 12 to 22 October along South Africa's West Coast, marks the latest chapter in a biennial exercise series that began in 2008 under the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) framework.
Exercise Scope and Objectives
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that IBSAMAR IX brings together the navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa with the overarching goal of enhancing interoperability and strengthening maritime cooperation. South Africa is hosting this edition, with India serving as the lead nation.
The exercise encompasses a wide range of disciplines: surface warfare, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, naval air operations, maritime interdiction, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), anti-piracy operations, search and rescue, damage control, and firefighting, alongside professional interactions between the participating crews.
Participating Vessels and Assets
The South African Navy is represented by SAS Amatola, SAS King Sekhukhune I, SAS Adam Kok III, and the submarine SAS Manthatisi. Brazil has deployed BNS Barroso, which carries an integral Lynx helicopter. INS Tarkash, a guided-missile frigate, is participating on the Indian side with an integral Chetak helicopter.
Strategic Significance
The Ministry of Defence underlined that IBSAMAR IX holds particular importance in the context of advancing maritime security across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The theme of this edition — 'Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain' — reflects a collective intent to address emerging maritime challenges through coordinated preparedness.
Notably, INS Tarkash reached South Africa after a port visit to Kenya's Mombasa, departing on 2 October 2026. That stop was itself aimed at deepening maritime ties between India and the East African nation, underscoring how IBSAMAR IX is part of a broader regional engagement arc rather than a standalone exercise.
IBSAMAR: A Decade-Long Partnership
Conducted biennially since 2008, IBSAMAR has grown into one of the more substantive South-South naval cooperation platforms globally. The series focuses on collective training and the exchange of operational best practices among three geographically dispersed but strategically aligned navies. This is the ninth edition of the exercise, reflecting consistent commitment from all three nations over nearly two decades. The exercise is expected to conclude on 22 October 2026.
Point of View
The IBSA maritime axis — linking India, Brazil, and South Africa — represents a parallel track of multilateral security-building that rarely gets its due coverage. India's role as lead nation this edition, combined with INS Tarkash's stop in Mombasa beforehand, suggests a deliberate effort to stitch together Indian Ocean and East African engagement into a single operational deployment. The real measure of IBSAMAR's value will be how far interoperability gains translate into coordinated responses to actual IOR challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and grey-zone incidents.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IBSAMAR exercise?
IBSAMAR is a biennial trilateral naval exercise conducted among the navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa under the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) framework. It has been held since 2008 and focuses on interoperability, collective training, and exchange of operational best practices.
Where and when is IBSAMAR IX taking place?
IBSAMAR IX is being conducted along South Africa's West Coast, centred at Simon's Town, from 12 to 22 October 2026. South Africa is the host nation and India is the lead nation for this edition.
Which ships are participating in IBSAMAR IX?
India is represented by INS Tarkash with an integral Chetak helicopter. South Africa has deployed SAS Amatola, SAS King Sekhukhune I, SAS Adam Kok III, and the submarine SAS Manthatisi. Brazil is participating with BNS Barroso, which carries a Lynx helicopter.
What activities are covered in IBSAMAR IX?
The exercise covers surface warfare, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, naval air operations, maritime interdiction, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), anti-piracy operations, search and rescue, damage control, firefighting, and professional crew interactions.
Why is IBSAMAR IX considered significant?
The Ministry of Defence has highlighted IBSAMAR IX as significant for advancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The exercise theme — 'Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain' — reflects a collective intent to build coordinated preparedness against shared maritime challenges.
