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 Post subject: Exercise IBSAMAR VIII
PostPosted: 11 Oct 2024, 14:16 
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9 October 2024: defenceWeb
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Naval Exercise IBSAMAR VIII Commences in South Africa

Dean Wingrin

The eighth edition of Exercise IBSAMAR, the multinational maritime exercise involving the navies of South Africa, Brazil and India, has commenced, marking another milestone in the trilateral collaboration between these maritime nations.
Held every two years, the exercise rotates leadership among the three participating nations, with South Africa serving as the permanent host due to its strategic geographical location.

Exercise IBSAMAR provides a platform for the naval forces of these nations to conduct a variety of exercises, both ashore and at sea, aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening maritime security. The exercise consists of an alongside phase at Simon’s Town Harbour (7-9 October) and a sea phase in False Bay and the Cape West coast area (10-16 October).
The South African Navy has deployed the frigate SAS Amatola, supported by a Super Lynx helicopter, an Oryx helicopter and two Hawk jets. Brazil’s contribution includes the Niteroi-class frigate BNS Defensora, equipped with a Super Lynx helicopter and a Special Forces team. India is participating with the frigate INS Talwar, its onboard Ka-31 AEW helicopter and an Indian Special Forces team.

Rear Admiral Handsome Matsane, Flag Officer Fleet designate of the South African Navy, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, stating: “India, Brazil, and South Africa are maritime nations with extensive and strategically important coastlines, making collaboration essential for the credible safeguarding of our waters. Through Exercise IBSAMAR 2024, the South African National Defence Force will have an invaluable opportunity to test our skills as well as improve our competence in the joint interdepartmental, inter-agency, and multinational environment.”

Under the guidance of Exercise Director Captain Sifiso Majozi (SA Navy), the primary aim of IBSAMAR is to enhance the operational readiness and cooperation between the participating nations. These exercises cover a wide range of serials, including tactical manoeuvres, search and rescue operations and maritime security drills. Through this collaboration, the navies aim to not only bolster their operational capabilities but also foster greater understanding and interoperability between maritime forces.

Commander Almeida Malos de Carvalho, Officer Commanding the Brazilian Navy Ship DEFENSORA, emphasized the importance of shared knowledge: “The cooperation between Brazil, India, and South Africa reflects our vision of shared security, stability and prosperity for our regions. I expect that this exercise will strengthen our interoperability and effectively prepare us for coordinated responses to maritime challenges.”

Captain Jithu George, Officer Commanding the Indian Naval Ship INS Talwar, echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the strategic importance of such interactions: “Multilateral interactions like these are crucial bridges of friendship that increase mutual trust and enhance interoperability among navies of like-minded, littoral nations towards a common goal of a peaceful maritime domain and positive maritime environment.”

Exercise IBSAMAR also focuses on addressing shared challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing and drug trafficking. By coordinating efforts and sharing best practices, the participating navies are better equipped to defend their waters and uphold international maritime law.

Captain Dieter Jones, Officer Commanding the South African Frigate SAS AMATOLA, noted the mutual benefits of the exercise: “We are going through a lot of effort to foster existing relationships, to expand on our knowledge base, to exchange customs and naval traditions, and to practice common doctrine. All of this is because we share a common interest, and that is the ocean, the Indian and Atlantic Ocean.”

A key technological highlight of Exercise IBSAMAR VIII is the use of the Indian Navy’s NISHAR (Network for Information Sharing) system. This system enables seamless communication and information sharing between the participating naval forces, enhancing their ability to coordinate operations and develop a common operating picture.

NISHAR uses portable terminals that work on plug-and-play architecture, allowing the participating navies to share text, emails and, when satellite bandwidth allows, images and video conferencing. This level of connectivity is crucial during joint exercises, ensuring that all units can communicate effectively over long distances.

Thus, India, Brazil and South Africa can establish a unified communication framework during operations, enhancing their ability to conduct joint maritime exercises and share tactical information.

Exercise IBSAMAR goes beyond military cooperation, serving as a symbol of the shared commitment of South Africa, Brazil and India to safeguard maritime security and promote stability in their regions. The successful execution of this exercise not only demonstrates the operational readiness of the participating navies but also reinforces the bonds of friendship and cooperation among the three nations.

As Commander Almeida Malos de Carvalho aptly put it, “IBSAMAR is one of the pillars of our defence responses, a high-strength collaboration and exchange of knowledge between our nations.”


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PostPosted: 11 Oct 2024, 14:17 
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Aboard INS Talwar

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PostPosted: 11 Oct 2024, 22:55 
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Very nice, hope you get pics of the Kamov and Lynx flying...


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PostPosted: 12 Oct 2024, 08:51 
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GLF4 wrote:
Very nice, hope you get pics of the Kamov and Lynx flying...


I was invited, but unfortunately cannot make it :(

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PostPosted: 12 Oct 2024, 10:10 
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Cancel that appointment!!


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PostPosted: 17 Oct 2024, 14:48 
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Consider the previous appointment cancelled :wink:

17 Oct 2024: defenceWeb

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SAS Amatola returns to the fight with successful Ibsamar VIII

Dean Wingrin

The sea phase of the multinational maritime Exercise Ibsamar VIII has wrapped up successfully off the Cape West Coast, showcasing the combined efforts of South Africa, Brazil and India.

This latest iteration of the naval drill involved South Africa’s SAS Amatola, India’s INS Talwar and Brazil’s BNS Defensora, which departed Simon’s Town Harbour on 10 October after an alongside phase from 7 to 9 October. Upon departing the safety of the harbour, the ships immediately faced simulated attacks by fast incoming attack craft, setting the stage for a series of complex manoeuvres and exercises over the week-long training period.

The drills included close-proximity ship manoeuvring, helicopter operations, replenishment at sea (RAS) exercises, seamanship evolutions and air defence activities with two South African Air Force Hawks which had deployed to Air Force Base Langebaanweg. The fleet also simulated warfare against each other as well as a live Gunex evolution using a “Killer Tomato” added to the range of training.

According to Captain Dieter Jones, Officer Commanding SAS Amatola, the exercise emphasised the enduring cooperation between South Africa, Brazil and India, having taken place eight times over the past 16 years.

For SAS Amatola, the exercise marked a significant milestone. After years of inactivity due to maintenance issues, the ship was brought back into service earlier this year through the dedicated efforts of its crew. Initially, the extensive work required for safe operational readiness had been underestimated, resulting in the cancellation of a planned ambitious voyage in July to participate in the Russian Navy’s anniversary parade in St Petersburg. However, since then, Amatola has regained operational momentum by conducting border safeguarding patrols under Operation Corona off the West Coast of South Africa and participating in exercises with a visiting Chinese frigate.

Reflecting on the challenges and achievements during the exercise, Jones emphasised the remarkable growth of the crew, especially the younger sailors.

“The most rewarding part as a Captain is seeing how my young people have developed over the six days at sea,” he said. “Their knowledge base, competence and confidence have grown significantly.”

Continuing, he said: “We don’t get the opportunity to do these exercises often, so operating at sea in a multi-threat environment with other ships in close proximity really hones the skills.”

“We have skilled warfare operators on board who operate various systems,” Jones noted. “During the exercise, we operated in both Combat State One and Two threat environments, staying in a tense warfare setting for several hours. This involved conducting surveillance, compiling a recognised maritime picture and defending ourselves against simulated attacks. You can’t fully replicate the real thing, but this time it was real, and they did it.”

The crew also gained valuable experience in RAS operations, which involved conducting tight formations and transferring gear between ships.

“These are tasks we don’t often get to perform, so from a command perspective, it was great exposure,” Jones explained, “The precise pilotage required for station-keeping demonstrated the capability of the teams on board.”

The exercise also strengthened the interoperability between the participating navies.

“The culmination of very close manoeuvres showed that we have all grown in our ability to operate together,” Jones observed. He highlighted the camaraderie that developed among the younger sailors, who bonded with their counterparts from the other nations.

“Seeing the youngsters who have never been involved in these types of exercises bond with others from different countries was a positive outcome. When we exchanged personnel or brought visitors on board, it was clear that these experiences left a lasting impact,” he said.

For the Commanding Officer of South Africa’s only operational frigate, this was Jones’ first time leading an exercise of this nature in command.

“It involved a lot of sleepless nights, but it was worth it,” he said. “It provided a clear picture of what is required when operating a warship at sea, and I am proud of how well the crew performed.”

The successful completion of Exercise Ibsamar VIII has not only bolstered the maritime skills of all involved but also deepened the ties between South Africa, Brazil and India. As the ships returned to Simon’s Town on 16 October, they did so with enhanced capabilities and stronger bonds, ready for the next chapter in their ongoing efforts to ensure regional maritime security.

Following a brief rest period for the crew, Amatola is set to undertake a three-month anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel as part of Operation Copper. These deployments underline the ship’s return to active service and its ongoing contributions to regional maritime security.


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PostPosted: 17 Oct 2024, 14:49 
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PostPosted: 17 Oct 2024, 14:50 
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PostPosted: 17 Oct 2024, 14:51 
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PostPosted: 18 Oct 2024, 15:18 
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Worth cancelling the appointment for I'm sure!

Very nice, Nice ships but since I'm an aviation man, The Indian Kamov and the Brazilian Lynx are superb.


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PostPosted: 22 Oct 2024, 09:22 
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Lovely photo's Dean, thank you!

What version of the Super Lynx does the Brazilian Navy operate?


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PostPosted: 22 Oct 2024, 10:56 
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It's an upgraded Mk21A, refitted with CTS800-4N engines, full digital glass cockpit and new EW avionics suite.

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