The Indian Navy’s INS Shardul and the Long Range Maritime Surveillance P8I aircraft have arrived in Bali, Indonesia, to participate in the prestigious International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025. This event, which runs from February 15 to 22, is a significant multinational naval gathering, reviewed by the Honorable President of Indonesia.
The participation of Indian Navy platforms in this review highlights India’s dedication to fostering maritime security and cooperation in the region.
Following the IFR, the Indian Navy will also engage in Exercise Komodo, a multilateral naval exercise organized by the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL). Exercise Komodo, known as Multilateral Naval Exercise KOMODO (MNEK), is held biannually between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, aiming to enhance interoperability among participating navies and strengthen regional security cooperation.
This exercise has seen participation from numerous countries, with the latest iteration in 2023 being one of the largest.
INS Shardul, a Shardul-class tank landing ship, has a storied history, including significant humanitarian missions like delivering relief material to Madagascar after Cyclone Diane in 2020. The P8I aircraft, a customized variant of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon for the Indian Navy, is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and combat capabilities, enhancing the Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance efforts.
The presence of these Indian Navy assets in Indonesia for IFR 2025 and Exercise Komodo underlines India’s ongoing commitment to engage with regional navies, promoting peace, stability, and cooperation in the maritime domain.
This engagement is part of the broader initiative to build ‘Bridges of Friendship’ between India and Indonesia, strengthening bilateral ties and contributing to the collective security framework in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy’s regular participation in such international events reaffirms India’s role as a responsible and proactive maritime power, dedicated to enhancing naval interoperability and regional security cooperation.
