The South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola has departed for India to represent South Africa at the 2026 International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN, hosted by the Indian Navy.
The navy described the voyage as a milestone for South Africa’s maritime posture, marking a return to longer-range deployments after a period of restricted operations. The deployment, the SAN said, reflects careful planning, prioritisation and professional determination within the service.
SAS Amatola will participate in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral exercise MILAN, which focus on interoperability, maritime security operations and strategic dialogue among participating navies. These gatherings aim to strengthen cooperation on safety, stability and shared responsibilities across the Indian Ocean region.
Alongside MILAN, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs and an International Maritime Seminar will take place, offering forums to discuss humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), information sharing and coordinated responses to non-traditional maritime security threats.
At a send-off ceremony at Naval Base Durban, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy, said the deployment reinforces decades-old defence ties with India and fulfils a commitment he made during a 2024 visit when he pledged to send a South African vessel to the Fleet Review. He urged the ship’s company to act as maritime diplomats, representing the navy and the country with professionalism both at sea and ashore.
Lobese also acknowledged public concerns about the navy’s constrained operational capacity, noting funding shortfalls and maintenance backlogs that have reduced sea time and delayed refits, limiting sustained overseas deployments. He described the voyage as an important opportunity for the service and the nation.
Exercise MILAN has grown into one of the largest multilateral naval gatherings globally, designed to build trust, enhance interoperability and promote cooperative maritime security. The SAN said South Africa’s participation places it among professional navies addressing common challenges such as maritime safety, humanitarian response and the protection of sea lines of communication.
