In a powerful display of growing maritime synergy, India and Japan conducted the Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2025 (JAIMEX-25), marking another milestone in their expanding naval cooperation. The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously designed Shivalik-class stealth frigate, represented India in this strategic engagement.
The sea phase of the exercise, held from October 16 to 18, was followed by the harbor phase in Yokosuka on October 21. During the drills at sea, INS Sahyadri maneuvered alongside Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels — Asahi, Oumi, and the submarine Jinryu — engaging in a wide range of advanced operations.
These exercises included anti-submarine warfare training, missile defense coordination, underway replenishment, and flying operations, all of which underscored the high level of operational compatibility between the two navies. The drills reflected the shared intent of both nations to safeguard maritime security and ensure open sea routes in the Indo-Pacific.
Upon arrival in Yokosuka, INS Sahyadri was welcomed by R Madhu Sudan, Charge d’Affaires of India, and Rear Admiral Yamaguchi Nobohisa, Chief of Staff of JMSDF’s Yokosuka District, during a ceremonial reception.
JAIMEX-25 serves as a testament to the “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” established between India and Japan in 2014 — a partnership aimed at fostering peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. Both nations continue to emphasize joint maritime engagement as a key element of their vision for a free, open, and inclusive regional order.
The harbor phase of the exercise includes a series of cultural and professional activities, such as cross-deck visits, joint operational briefings, and a combined yoga session designed to enhance mutual understanding and camaraderie among naval personnel.
INS Sahyadri’s participation forms part of India’s Long Range Deployment across the Indo-Pacific, reflecting the Indian Navy’s growing reach, readiness, and commitment to cooperative maritime security. Commissioned in 2012, the multi-role stealth frigate represents India’s indigenous defense innovation under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
Over the years, INS Sahyadri has participated in multiple international operations, reinforcing India’s role as a responsible maritime power. The continued collaboration between the Indian Navy and the JMSDF reaffirms both nations’ shared goal of preserving peace, freedom of navigation, and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific.
