Indian Naval Ship Surat has arrived in Muscat, Oman, to take part in the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr, the bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman, the Indian Navy said on Monday. The four-day exercise began on Sunday, November 8, and will continue until November 11.

Source: IANS via NewKerala

"INS Surat arrived at Muscat, Oman, on 08 Nov 26 to participate in the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr 2026, scheduled from 08-11 Nov 26. Building upon the momentum of the 13th edition of the Joint Military Cooperation Committee, the exercise aims to enhance operational synergy and interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman," the Indian Navy posted on X.

According to ReportWire, the drill will run in two phases — a harbour segment followed by a sea segment — with crews visiting each other's vessels, holding tactical discussions and taking part in team-building sports. The exercise is aimed at sharing operational experience and developing joint capabilities for future sea-based missions.

Source: ReportWire

Exercise follows October staff talks in New Delhi

The exercise comes weeks after India and Oman held the 8th edition of their Navy Staff Talks in New Delhi on October 27-28. The talks were co-chaired by Commodore Kartik Srimal, Commodore (Foreign Cooperation) of the Indian Navy, and Commodore Ahmed Juma Salim Al Khatri, Director General of Operations and Plans of the Royal Navy of Oman, and covered operational engagements, training, information exchange and hydrographic cooperation, with an emphasis on addressing shared maritime security challenges.

Naval contact between the two countries has been steady this season. Earlier, the Indian Navy's sail training ship INS Sudarshini visited Salalah in Oman from October 14 to 17 as part of its transoceanic deployment Lokayan-2026, holding professional interactions and sporting engagements with the Royal Navy of Oman, the Ministry of Defence said. The Naseem Al Bahr sea phase runs until November 11.