Naseem Al Bahr Naval Exercise: Indian Navy’s warship INS Surat has reached Muscat in Oman to take part in a major joint maritime exercise between the two countries. The ship arrived on November 8, 2026, for the 15th edition of the bilateral naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr, also known as Sea Breeze. The exercise will be followed by a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) involving the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
The four-day exercise is scheduled to take place from November 8 to November 11.
INS Surat to Take Part in Harbour and Sea Activities
The naval exercise will be held in two parts. Some activities will take place at the harbour while others will be carried out at sea. Sailors from India and Oman will take part in these events and share their knowledge with each other.
The programme will also include cross-deck visits. During these visits, sailors will get a chance to visit ships operated by the other navy. Both sides will also take part in work-related discussions and sports activities.
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The exercise will also focus on improving how the two navies work together during different operations. This will help their personnel understand each other’s roles and make it easier to coordinate during future missions.
INS Surat is a Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. It joined the Navy on January 15, 2025. It’s the fourth and final warship built under Project 15B.
India-Oman Maritime Ties and MAHASAGAR Vision
INS Surat’s visit to Oman is also part of the ongoing defence partnership between the two countries. India and Oman have been working together on maritime security for several years. Both countries also share an interest in keeping important sea routes safe for ships and trade.
The visit is linked to India’s MAHASAGAR vision. Its full form is Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Under this vision, India aims to work closely with other countries on maritime security and regional development.
Exercise Builds on 2025 Defence Cooperation Meeting
The latest naval engagement also follows the 13th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting held in New Delhi on November 24, 2025.
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The meeting was jointly led by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Oman’s Defence Ministry Secretary General Dr Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi. Both sides discussed ways to improve defence relations through joint development, technology sharing and wider production partnerships.
They also discussed stronger supply chains and the need to improve cooperation in new defence technologies.
The Naseem Al Bahr exercise and the following CORPAT are expected to take these efforts further. Both navies will get another opportunity to improve their coordination and strengthen their maritime partnership.
