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SAS Amatola Sails to India for Major Naval Events
The South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola is en route to India to represent South Africa at the 2026 International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN, both hosted by the Indian Navy.
The vessel departed Simon’s Town Naval Base on Sunday 25 January and arrived in Durban three days later for an official send off. From there, the frigate continued its voyage and is expected to reach India by mid February. The President of India is scheduled to review the international fleet on 18 February.
Strengthening South Africa’s Maritime Presence
According to the South African Navy, the deployment highlights South Africa’s renewed commitment to multilateral naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. It also signals a carefully planned return to long range naval deployments following years of operational and budgetary constraints.
The mission underscores South Africa’s intention to remain an active contributor to regional maritime security while balancing limited resources through strategic planning and disciplined execution.
Navy Leadership Addresses Crew
During a send off ceremony at Naval Base Durban, Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Monde Lobese addressed the ship’s company, reminding them of their responsibility as representatives of South Africa and the South African National Defence Force.
He noted that the deployment fulfils a commitment made to the Indian Chief of Naval Staff and described SAS Amatola as South Africa’s chosen flagship for the international events. He also highlighted the historical significance of the voyage, given the length of time since the Navy last undertook a similar mission.
First Major Overseas Frigate Deployment Since 2017
The last major overseas deployment of a South African frigate took place in early 2017, when SAS Amatola sailed to the United Kingdom to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of SS Mendi and to complete advanced sea training. That mission also included visits to several West African ports.
Since then, the South African Navy has faced funding challenges that reduced sea time and delayed vessel maintenance, limiting its ability to sustain long distance deployments.
A Test of Readiness and Resilience
Captain Theo Mabina, Senior Staff Officer Naval Public Relations, said the current deployment reflects resilience and strategic prioritisation within the Navy. He explained that the mission demonstrates the Navy’s ability to prepare and deploy its premier surface combatant for extended operations despite ongoing resource limitations.
The deployment also serves as a measure of the Navy’s operational readiness and its continued role in supporting shared regional security goals.
Exercise MILAN and International Fleet Review 2026
Exercise MILAN has grown into one of the world’s largest multilateral naval exercises, involving dozens of navies from around the globe. The Sea and Harbour Phases will run from 19 to 25 February and will focus on interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti submarine warfare, air defence, and search and rescue operations.
More than 100 countries have been invited to participate in the International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN 2026.
Alongside these events, India will host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs on 20 February and an International Maritime Seminar on 19 and 20 February. These forums will address issues such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, information sharing, and coordinated responses to emerging security threats.
Reinforcing Longstanding Ties With India
As SAS Amatola continues her journey, the South African Navy says the ship carries national pride while strengthening international partnerships. Participation in the Indian maritime events also reinforces long standing defence relations between South Africa and India, developed through decades of bilateral and trilateral cooperation.
The deployment positions South Africa as an engaged maritime partner and signals its continued commitment to security and cooperation at sea.
