IN NEWS – INS Ranvir Participates in Exercise Bongosagar 2025 and Indian Navy–Bangladesh Navy CORPAT
Analysis
- The India–Bangladesh Naval Exercise Bongosagar 2025 and Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) were conducted in the Bay of Bengal during the second week of March 2025.
- The exercise witnessed participation of INS Ranvir from the Indian Navy and BNS Abu Ubaidah from the Bangladesh Navy.
- These exercises aimed to enhance interoperability, strengthen maritime cooperation, and ensure collective maritime security in the region.
Key Highlights
- Objective and Scope:
- To promote mutual understanding, improve coordination, and ensure effective joint responses to shared maritime security challenges.
- Focused on reinforcing trust, tactical coordination, and joint operational efficiency between the two navies.
- Operational Elements:
- The exercise included surface firing, tactical manoeuvres, underway replenishment, Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS), cross boarding operations, and communication drills.
- Additional engagements included quizzes and professional interactions for operations teams and junior officers, promoting mutual learning.
- Strategic Significance:
- Strengthened bilateral maritime cooperation and information sharing mechanisms.
- Reinforced the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision of India, aimed at promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Enhanced the ability of both navies to undertake coordinated operations and respond effectively to emerging threats at sea.
- Outcome:
- Improved confidence, interoperability, and coordination between India and Bangladesh.
- Contributed to regional maritime stability and shared commitment towards countering transnational maritime threats such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
Static / Background Information
- Exercise Bongosagar:
- A bilateral naval exercise between India and Bangladesh, aimed at developing interoperability and joint operational capabilities.
- First held in 2019, it complements the India–Bangladesh CORPAT, which has been conducted since 2018.
- CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol):
- Conducted biannually between India and Bangladesh in the northern Bay of Bengal.
- Aims to maintain maritime domain awareness, ensure safe sea lanes, and prevent illegal activities in the region.
- INS Ranvir:
- A Rajput-class guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, commissioned in 1986.
- Equipped for multi-role operations, including anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
- BNS Abu Ubaidah:
- A Type 053H3 frigate of the Bangladesh Navy, capable of multi-dimensional operations in surface and air defence roles.
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region):
- India’s strategic maritime vision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.
- Emphasises regional cooperation, blue economy development, and maritime security across the Indian Ocean.
Updated – 13 Mar 2025 ; 7:56 PM | PIB