The Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tarkash participated in a PASSEX with the Royal New Zealand Navy's Anzac-class frigate Te Kaha on 04 Apr 25 in the Gulf of Aden. This exercise marked the culmination of the New Zealand led CTF 150 Joint Focused Operation ANZAC Tiger (27 Mar - 04 Apr 2025), a Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operation in which INS Tarkash was mission deployed.
The PASSEX involved a range of interoperability drills, including cross-deck landings, cross boarding, Sea Rider exchanges, and tactical manoeuvres, all integrated with communication procedure exercises. This provided a valuable opportunity for the two navies to exchange best practices, further strengthen their bilateral maritime cooperation and enhance interoperability.
Conducted in the strategic Indian Ocean Region, this event underscores the strong and enduring relationship between India and New Zealand, reaffirming the Indian Navy’s role as a key and preferred security partner committed to regional maritime stability.