James Fisher Defence (JFD), a global provider of specialist marine and defence solutions enabling mission success at sea, has successfully completed RESCUEX East 2026 demonstrating the full rescue mission cycle. The exercise included call out, road transport, timed embarkation operations, demobilisation and safe return of the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), validating system operations and agility in the event of a real-life rescue scenario.
Delivered as part of JFD’s ongoing Third In-Service Support contract on behalf of the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, for the UK, France and Norway, the exercise is designed to demonstrate full mission delivery and readiness for a disabled submarine incident.
This marks the fifth operational exercise the company has performed this year in support of its global submarine rescue contracts, demonstrating its ability to manage the complexities of a submarine incident with confidence and precision.
Richard Devlin, Managing Director, James Fisher Defence, said: “RESCUEX East showcases the NSRS’ proven ability to mobilise rapidly and deliver a coordinated, international response to submarine emergencies, where success is measured not only by reaching the first survivors, but by the ability to recover all personnel safely.
“Drawing on our collective knowledge and experience gained through supporting submarine rescue programmes across multiple international navies, these trials reinforce confidence in a capability that is critical to protecting lives subsea.”
During RESCUEX East, JFD – working alongside SDG and French, Norwegian and Royal Navy personnel – delivered all phases of the operation within defined target timelines including a timed embarkation of equipment and personnel onto a Norwegian vessel in Rosyth (Scotland), highlighting its ability to deploy at pace. This was followed by transit to Norway to participate in live diving and rescue training operations, including a deep certification dive to over 600 metres, before safe recovery and demobilisation following return to the UK.
The exercise also provided an opportunity to fully prove the recently upgraded fibre optic video and voice communications system, reinforcing the company’s commitment to enhancing capability through technology upgrades that improve safety.
As part of the exercise, multiple successful matings and hatch operations were conducted with seabed targets simulating a Disabled Submarine (DISSUB). Activities also included a rescue sequence of submariners entering the submarine rescue vehicle, recovery to the vessel, and transfer under pressure to the NSRS Transfer Under Pressure System, validating the end-to-end rescue capability in realistic environmental and operational conditions.
James Richards, Head of Submarine Rescue at JFD, said: “As the delivery partner for NSRS, exercises such as RESCUEX East are invaluable not only to prove readiness and operation of equipment under real world conditions, but also to maintain and maximise the competency of our operators.
“These exercises ultimately help us prepare for a real rescue scenario by giving us the opportunity to conduct the full rescue process alongside divers and medics from all partner nations. These scenarios are fundamental to maintaining the success of the NSRS. The operational insight and experience the team gains during these intensive and complex operations cannot be underestimated, and this exercise further strengthens JFD’s proven capability supporting global submarine rescue contracts.”
Real world submarine rescue exercises like RESCUEX East are vital for building operator competence and validating equipment under genuine conditions. This latest exercise reinforces JFD’s consistent track record in delivering operational readiness through live deployments, while continuing to work closely with international partners as maritime operations evolve.
About Us
James Fisher has been delivering mission-critical support to the world’s militaries for over 40 years. From protecting underwater infrastructure to supporting personnel safety and national security at sea, our defence experts enable operational success in the harshest conditions – providing confidence under pressure when it matters most.
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Joseph Johnston
Senior Communications Executive
James Fisher and Sons plc
+44 7802 741 165