**Executive Summary**
The INS Sagardhwani was flagged off on January 17, 2026, from Southern Naval Command, Kochi, for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative. This collaborative effort between the Indian Navy and DRDO aims to strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries and retraces the historic routes of INS Kistna. The mission involves collaborative oceanographic studies with eight IOR countries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sagar Maitri (SM-5) Initiative:**
* Fifth edition of the initiative.
* Flagged off on January 17, 2026, from Kochi.
* **Collaborative Framework:**
* Collaboration between the Indian Navy and DRDO.
* Aligned with the Government of India's MAHASAGAR vision.
* Aims to promote socio-economic cooperation and scientific interaction with IOR countries.
* **Scientific Component (MAITRI):**
* DRDO initiated 'MAITRI' (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative).
* Establishes long-term collaboration with IOR countries in ocean research and development.
* **Mission Objectives:**
* Retrace historic routes of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962–65.
* Build sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
* Initiate collaborative oceanographic studies with Maldives.
* **Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA):**
* Sagar Maitri is central to DRDO's efforts for UDA for the Indian Navy.
* Collects oceanographic and acoustic data along designated tracks.
* **INS Sagardhwani Details:**
* A specialized marine acoustic research vessel designed by NPOL and built by GRSE.
* Commissioned in Jul 1994.
* Serves as a platform for ocean observations and marine research.
**Impact Analysis**
**IOR Countries:**
* **Impact:** Will be included in collaborative oceanographic studies, enabling joint research and professional exchange among scientists.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the DRDO for joint oceanographic research and development initiatives.
**Indian Navy:**
* **Impact:** The INS Sagardhwani missions contribute to Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA).
* **Action Required:** Utilize collected data for strategic planning and operational effectiveness.
**DRDO:**
* **Impact:** Strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building among IOR nations.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the implementation of the MAITRI program.
Key Entities Referenced
Sagar Maitri: A flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, focused on 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)' by promoting cooperation and scientific interaction among Indian Ocean Rim countries.
DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation; a key partner in the Sagar Maitri initiative and responsible for Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) research and development efforts.
Indian Navy: A key partner with the DRDO in the Sagar Maitri initiative, contributing vessels and resources to promote cooperation and scientific interaction among Indian Ocean Rim countries.
MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative): A scientific component of the Sagar Maitri program initiated by DRDO to establish long-term collaboration with IOR countries in ocean research and development.
Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries: The geographical region which the Sagar Maitri initiative targets, focused on promoting cooperation and scientific interaction.
Ministry of Defence
INS SAGARDHWANI FLAGS OFF FOR SAGAR
MAITRI V
प्रव तथ: 18 JAN 2026 1:40PM by PIB Delhi
INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel under the Naval Physical and Oceanographic
Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, was flagged off for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative
from Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 17 Jan 2026.
The vessel was flagged off by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Honourable Member of Parliament and
Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, in the presence of honourable Members
of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of
Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO; RAdm Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command; Dr
R. V. Hara Prasad, Director General (Naval Systems & Materials); and Dr Duvvuri Seshagiri, Director,
NPOL, along with senior officials from the Indian Navy and DRDO.
Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the
Government of India’s vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across
Regions (MAHASAGAR)'. The initiative aims to promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects
and greater scientific interaction, especially in ocean research, among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries.
Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi has been conducting oceanographic
missions under the Sagar Maitri programme with the objective of strengthening scientific cooperation and
capacity building among IOR nations. Under the aegis of this programme, DRDO initiated a scientific
component titled 'MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative)' to
establish long-term collaboration with IOR countries in the field of ocean research and development.
Under the Sagar Maitri programme, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna,
which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962–65. The initiative
seeks to build sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries, namely Oman, Maldives, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The ongoing mission marks the
initiation of collaborative oceanographic studies with Maldives, enabling joint research and professional
exchange among scientists of IOR nations.
Sagar Maitri represents the centrepiece of DRDO’s efforts towards achieving relevant Underwater
Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy. During these missions, oceanographic and acoustic data
of importance are collected along designated observational tracks by DRDO research vessel INS
Sagardhwani, aligned with planned scientific objectives relevant to UDA.
INS Sagardhwani is a specialised marine acoustic research vessel designed by NPOL and built by Garden
Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Commissioned in Jul 1994, the ship has served as a key
platform for ocean observations and marine research for over three decades, contributing significantly to
India’s maritime scientific capabilities.______________________________________________________________
VM/SPS 07/26
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