LONG RANGE TRAINING DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN NAVY’S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) TO SOUTH EAST ASIA

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LONG RANGE TRAINING DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) TO SOUTH EAST ASIA

1. At a Glance

• First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy was deployed on a Long Range Training Deployment (LRTD) to South East Asia in Jan 2026, under the 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [S1].
• Squadron comprises INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi; port calls scheduled at Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand [S1].
• Aligns with India's Act East Policy and vision for a Free, Open and Inclusive Indian Ocean Region (IOR) — combines officer training with naval diplomacy [S1].

2. Why in the News

• 07 Jan 2026 PIB release announced the LRTD of 1TS to South East Asia [S1].
• Squadron arrived at Changi Naval Base, Singapore on 15 Jan 2026 [S2].
• Subsequent port calls at Belawan, Indonesia [S3] and Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand [S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1TS is based at Kochi under the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC) [S5].
• Provides the "first sea legs" to Executive Officers of the Indian Navy after ab-initio training at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala [S5].
• Trains cadets of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Friendly Foreign Countries (e.g., RSNF/Royal Saudi Naval Force trainees) [S5].
• Past LRTDs include Mombasa (Kenya), Maputo (Mozambique), Port Louis & La Réunion (2024–25 East Africa deployment) [S6].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent body: Ministry of Defence; Indian Navy — Southern Naval Command, Kochi [S1][S5].
• Course: 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [S1].
• Ships on this LRTD: INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi [S1].
• Ports of call: Singapore (Changi Naval Base), Belawan (Indonesia), Phuket (Thailand) [S1][S2][S3][S4].
• Squadron composition (historic): Tir, Sujata, Magar, Shardul, CGS Vikram, plus sail training ships INS Sudarshini and INS Tarangini [S5].
• Curriculum: Seamanship, Navigation, Shiphandling, Boat Work, Engineering; sail training on Tarangini/Sudarshini [S5].
• Policy frame: Act East Policy; vision of SAGAR / free, open and inclusive IOR [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic - Reinforces India's maritime outreach to ASEAN littorals astride critical SLOCs through the Malacca, Sunda, Lombok straits [S1]. - Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand are key partners under Act East and the Indo-Pacific construct [S1]. - Showcases interoperability with regional navies/coast guards via professional interactions [S2][S3].

Administrative / Military Training - Embeds cross-cultural exposure into ab-initio officer training pipeline (INA → 1TS LRTD) [S1][S5]. - Joint embarkation with ICGS Sarathi illustrates Navy–Coast Guard integrated training [S1].

Historical - LRTDs are a recurring 1TS tradition — earlier deployments to Cam Ranh Bay (Vietnam), Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya, Mozambique [S6][S7].

Diplomatic / Soft Power - Port visits include professional interactions, sports/cultural exchanges, advancing defence diplomacy with ASEAN partners [S2][S3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 07 Jan 2026: LRTD to SE Asia announced [S1].
• 15 Jan 2026: 1TS arrives Changi Naval Base, Singapore [S2].
• Jan–Feb 2026: Port call at Belawan, Indonesia [S3].
• 2026: Visit concludes at Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand [S4].
• 2024–25: Prior LRTD to East Africa (Mombasa, Maputo, Port Louis, La Réunion) [S6].

7. Prelims Hooks

• 1TS is based at Kochi under Southern Naval Command [S5].
• Ab-initio officer training happens at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala [S5].
• LRTD Jan 2026 was part of the 110th IOTC [S1].
• Ships deployed: INS Tir, Shardul, Sujata + ICGS Sarathi [S1].
• ICGS Sarathi belongs to the Indian Coast Guard, not the Navy [S1].
• Port calls: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand [S1].
• Singapore port: Changi Naval Base [S2].
• Indonesian port: Belawan (Sumatra) [S3].
• Thai port: Phuket Deep Sea Port [S4].
• 1TS sail training ships: INS Tarangini and INS Sudarshini [S5].
• Policy alignment: Act East Policy + free/open/inclusive IOR [S1].
• 1TS also trains Friendly Foreign Country cadets (e.g., RSNF) [S5].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: India and its neighbourhood; bilateral/regional groupings — Act East, ASEAN engagement.
• GS-III: Security — role of armed forces in defence diplomacy; maritime security in IOR.
• Possible stems: 1. "Naval training deployments are an instrument of India's defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific." Discuss with reference to the First Training Squadron. 2. "India's Act East Policy increasingly relies on a maritime turn." Examine in light of recent IN deployments to SE Asia. 3. Discuss the strategic significance of port calls at Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand for India's IOR vision.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• SAGAR / MAHASAGAR vision — overarching IOR doctrine.
• Act East Policy — evolution from Look East (1992) → Act East (2014).
• Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala — premier officer training institution.
• MILAN, SIMBEX, Samudra Shakti exercises — IN exercises with ASEAN navies.
• Malacca, Sunda, Lombok Straits — chokepoints geography.
• QUAD & Indo-Pacific construct — strategic framework.
• Indian Coast Guard — role, fleet, mandate (relevant via ICGS Sarathi).
• Information Fusion Centre–IOR (Gurugram) — IN's maritime domain awareness hub.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• 1TS HQ: Kochi (SNC), NOT Ezhimala (which is INA) [S5].
• ICGS Sarathi is a Coast Guard ship, not Navy — easy MCQ trap [S1].
• Course is IOTC (Integrated Officers' Training Course), not the older "Sub Lieutenants' course" — and this is the 110th edition [S1].
• Don't confuse this LRTD with the 2024–25 East Africa LRTD (Mombasa, Maputo) [S6].
• Sail training ships Tarangini/Sudarshini are part of 1TS family but did not deploy on this LRTD [S5].

11. Sources

• [S1] LONG RANGE TRAINING DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) TO SOUTH EAST ASIA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2212110 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SINGAPORE — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215591 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON MAKES PORT CALL AT BELAWAN, INDONESIA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216606 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON CONCLUDES VISIT TO PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILAND — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2220316 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] RSNF TRAINEES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE TRAINING ONBOARD FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2034363 — (tier: 1)
• [S6] FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON OF THE INDIAN NAVY DEPARTS PORT LOUIS AND LA RÉUNION — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2166311 — (tier: 1)
• [S7] FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON OF INDIAN NAVY ARRIVED AT CAM RANH BAY, VIETNAM — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2105249 — (tier: 1)