SAREX-2026 brought India’s maritime rescue agencies together off the Odisha coast on Thursday in a large-scale exercise designed to test how quickly and effectively they can locate, reach and evacuate people during a major emergency at sea.
The drill was conducted off Paradip under the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise. It was the first time the Odisha coast hosted the exercise on such a large scale, with the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and other agencies carrying out simulated search-and-rescue operations.
The Indian Coast Guard deployed 15 ships, two Dornier aircraft, three Advanced Light Helicopters and a Chetak helicopter for the exercise. The Indian Air Force fielded a C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft, while the Indian Navy contributed two ships.
The participating teams used air and sea assets to simulate the location, approach and evacuation of people in distress. The exercise also demonstrated specialised rescue capabilities intended for complex maritime emergencies and difficult operating conditions, according to details reported from the operation.
The drill was built around a crisis scenario far from the shoreline, where the time taken to identify survivors and send assistance can directly affect rescue outcomes. Its operational focus was therefore not limited to individual agency capability; it also tested coordination between forces using different aircraft, ships and command structures.
The exercise drew 32 observers from 30 countries, giving the operation an international dimension. Their presence allowed foreign representatives to witness India’s national search-and-rescue coordination arrangements and the deployment of multiple maritime and aviation platforms in a common exercise.
Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth inaugurated SAREX-2026 in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. He said such exercises were important for strengthening preparedness, improving inter-agency coordination and ensuring a rapid response during maritime emergencies.
The exercise places the Odisha coast within India’s wider maritime emergency-response framework. Its conclusion will provide participating agencies with an opportunity to assess how their ships, aircraft and rescue teams performed together during the simulated operations.
