India's Naval Training Squadron has set sail on a significant Southeast Asia deployment as part of the 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course. The squadron comprises warships INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarathi. The deployment is designed to provide officer trainees with practical sea-training experience while simultaneously reinforcing India's maritime outreach across the Indo-Pacific region.
The squadron is scheduled to make port calls in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand — three key ASEAN nations — as part of India's broader strategy of deepening maritime ties in the Indo-Pacific. These visits serve multiple strategic purposes: operational training for naval officers, diplomatic goodwill, interoperability exercises with partner navies, and demonstration of India's naval reach and presence in the region.
INS Tir is the Indian Navy's dedicated sail training ship and plays a central role in the annual training deployments of officer cadets. INS Shardul and INS Sujata are landing ship tanks (LSTs) that provide versatile platform support during training voyages. ICGS Sarathi, operated by the Indian Coast Guard, signals the integration of maritime security agencies in joint deployment operations.
The 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course is a key phase of professional training for naval officers before they are inducted into frontline duties. The Southeast Asia deployment is an important module that exposes trainee officers to real-world navigation, seamanship, and inter-service coordination.
India's maritime outreach in Southeast Asia is aligned with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and the Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative (IPOI). The deployment underscores India's commitment to being a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.