Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class guided missile stealth frigate, participated in the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25) from October 16 to 18, culminating in a port call at Yokosuka, Japan, on October 21 for the Harbour phase, the Ministry of Defence said.
During the sea phase, INS Sahyadri operated alongside Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships Asahi, Oumi, and submarine Jinryu in advanced anti-submarine warfare and missile defence drills. The exercises included flying operations and underway replenishment, enhancing interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies. The Ministry noted that JAIMEX-25 reflects the strong Navy-to-Navy interactions underpinning the India-Japan ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ established in 2014, a crucial pillar for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
The Harbour Phase at Yokosuka featured professional and cultural exchanges between the crews, including cross-deck visits, collaborative operational planning, sharing of best practices, and a combined yoga session to foster camaraderie. The port call also forms part of INS Sahyadri’s ongoing Long Range Deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Commissioned in 2012, INS Sahyadri represents India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities and aligns with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). The stealth frigate has previously participated in various operational deployments as well as bilateral and multilateral exercises.
The Ministry highlighted that India and Japan continue to maintain a robust strategic partnership, with the Indian Navy and JMSDF playing a key role in promoting defence and maritime cooperation and advancing a shared vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.