Singapore hosts most complex edition of multinational submarine rescue exercise

A simulated rescue of distressed submariners at Exercise ‘Pacific Reach' 2025. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Singapore is hosting the most complex iteration of the multinational submarine rescue exercise known as ‘Pacific Reach'.

The drills, which involve nearly 600 personnel from 17 countries, are taking place from 15 to 29 September, the country's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a media statement released on 22 September.

It is the ninth edition of the exercise, which has been hosted by other countries including Australia and Japan since it began in 2000, with Singapore hosting it for the third time.

Making its debut at the exercise series is the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) first Invincible-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK), RSS Invincible, which was commissioned in 2024.

It is participating in the drills alongside two other submarines, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF's) Oyashio-class SSK JS Kuroshio and the Republic of Korea Navy's Type 214 SSK, ROKS Shin Dol-seok.

Submarine rescue vessels participating in the exercise are namely the RSN's MV Swift Rescue, the Indian Navy's INS Nistar, the JMSDF's JS Chiyoda, and the Royal Malaysian Navy's MV Mega Bakti.

“The aim of the exercise is really to enhance SMER [submarine escape and rescue] knowledge, to improve interoperability between countries and rescue assets and submarines, to enhance mutual trust, and also to provide an opportunity for co-operation among all our navies,” said Colonel Fong Chi Onn, deputy exercise director for ‘Pacific Reach', in an 18 September exercise briefing that was attended by Janes.