During the “Maritime Security Belt-2025” exercise in the Gulf of Oman, naval forces from Russia, Iran, and China engaged in coordinated operations, including live artillery fire and a hostage rescue scenario involving a vessel simulated to be captured by terrorists. Over two days, crews conducted both day and night drills using heavy machine guns and small arms targeting decoy unmanned boats and aerial drones representing a hypothetical adversary. A notable highlight was the joint maritime search for the seized vessel, followed by a special forces operation to liberate it, which utilized deck-based helicopters for reconnaissance, target engagement, and troop insertion. The exercise featured approximately 15 vessels, including Russian corvettes “Rezky” and “Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov,” along with the Pacific Fleet’s medium tanker “Pechenga.” Following the successful execution of objectives, the participating ships returned to the Iranian port of Chabahar for debriefing. This exercise underlines the increasing interoperability and strategic collaboration among these nations, enhancing their collective maritime security capabilities in critical regions.
