Indian Navy pitches in to find missing Indonesian submarine

Indian Navy on Thursday pitched in to locate the missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402. The submarine went missing on Wednesday, 60 miles off the coast of Bali with 53 people on board.

Indian Navy has sent its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which departed from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in search and rescue efforts for KRI Nanggala.

Equipped with the latest technology and capabilities, DSRV has a Side Scan Sonar to locate the position of any submarine in distress. It can provide immediate relief by posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

Indian Defence ‌Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Gen Prabowo Subianto.

“I am extremely pained to hear about the missing Indonesian Submarine Nanggala with 53 crew on board. As a well wisher and a defence Minister myself I can feel the pain and anguish. At this point I would like to extend the full support of the Indian Armed Forces to the Indonesian Rescue effort,” Singh said, according to a release from the Indian Navy.

“I have also tasked the Indian Air Force to see the feasibility of induction of the DSRV intervention system by air. India is committed to assist our strategic partners during times of necessity. Please accept my concern and best wishes to a successful rescue,” he said.

Gen Subianto acknowledged and appreciated India’s support to Indonesia, the release said.

India is among the few countries in the world capable of undertaking Search and Rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV, the Navy release said.

Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine upto 1,000 metre depth utilising its state-of-the art Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). After the submarine is successfully located, another sub module of DSRV- the Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) - mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.

Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy share a strong partnership of operational cooperation. The two navies have been exercising regularly in the past and have developed synergy and interoperability which is considered important for the present mission.

The Indian effort comes even as both countries have been engaging on several fronts from defence to maritime collaboration.

Indian Navy has been providing support in the region in several ways, including by providing medicine, food supplies amid the Covid pandemic. Under its Sagar missions 1, 2 and 3, it reached out to more than 10 countries in the Indian Ocean region, Africa and ASEAN with supplies to deal with the Covid crisis.

Meanwhile, other countries in the region, namely Singapore and Malaysia, have dispatched vessels to support Indonesia.

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in a statement said, "The Republic of Singapore Navy’s MV Swift Rescue – our submarine rescue vessel – was dispatched expeditiously...as fast as she could get ready after our navy chief received a request for assistance from his Indonesian counterpart."