Indian and Italian Navies conduct passage exercise in north Arabian Sea

INS Surat is an indigenously built warship currently deployed in the north Arabian Sea. Pic/Defence PRO

The Indian Navy's newest guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, carried out a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with ITS Caio Duilio, a destroyer of the Italian Navy, on September 7, 2025, an official statement said on Wednesday.

INS Surat is an indigenously built warship currently deployed in the north Arabian Sea. The Italian ship, Caio Duilio, belongs to the Andrea Doria Class of destroyers.

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The statement further said that the joint exercise included a range of naval activities such as tactical manoeuvres, aircraft tracking, seamanship drills, communication exercises, and cross-deck helicopter operations. The two ships also performed a ceremonial steampast at the end of the exercise, exchanging naval courtesies.

"The engagement allowed both navies to share best practices and improve their ability to work together at sea. After the successful exercise, both ships continued with their scheduled missions," the statement said.

It said that the Indian Navy said the exercise highlights the importance of strengthening defence cooperation with Italy, and reflects India's commitment to building strong maritime partnerships.