INS Sunayna, PASSEX Exercise and SAGAR Initiative

Why in News?

INS Sunayna, deployed under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, arrived at Male, Maldives marking the first port call of her operational deployment.

• It is the 2^nd Saryu-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.

The Saryu class of Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs) represents the Indian Navy's advanced indigenously designed and built patrol ships and the first commissioned Vessel is INS Saryu.

• It is designed and constructed indigenously by the Goa Shipyard Limited.
• Commissioned in - 2013.
• Displacement - 2,200 tonnes.
• Speed - 25 knots (≈46 km/h).
• Range - 6,000 nautical miles at 16 knots.
• Role – Maritime security, surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and regional cooperation under the SAGAR.
• Objectives
  • Strengthen maritime partnerships and interoperability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • Enhance capacity building and collective readiness among friendly foreign navies.
  • Promote India’s Neighbourhood First and One Ocean, One Mission vision.
• Key Features – Multifaceted Mission Capability – Equipped for long-range patrols, surveillance, and maritime security to effectively safeguard critical sea lanes.
• Integrated Crisis Response – Supports anti-piracy, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance during disaster relief and medical outreach missions.
• Operational Capacity Building – Designed for multinational deployments and joint naval exercises to enhance training and capacity building with partner nations.

IOS SAGAR Initiative

• Full Form – Indian Ocean Ship – Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
• IOS SAGAR – It is a maritime engagement program aimed at fostering cooperation with 16 Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations.
• It involves training and sailing maritime personnel onboard INS Sunayna to enhance maritime security, interoperability, and strengthen ties under the MAHASAGAR framework.
• Participants – Naval personnel from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) join Indian crew.
• Highlights –Strengthen maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR), and anti‑piracy operations.
• Port calls in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore.
• Engagements with partner navies to build trust and professional links.
• Reinforces India’s Neighbourhood First policy.
• Builds the largest multinational crew deployment under an Indian Navy initiative.

MAHASAGAR

• MAHASAGAR - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
• Introduced in– March 2025, linked to the IOS SAGAR initiative.
• Focus – Expands India’s SAGAR doctrine (2015) from bilateral to multilateral maritime cooperation.
• Objectives – Collective security, blue economy, disaster relief, and regional connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Significance – Positions India as a net security provider, complements forums like Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and supports the vision of “One Ocean, One Mission.”

References

1. PIB | INS Sunayna
2. Indian Navy | INS Sunayna