The eighth edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX-24) commenced at Yokosuka, Japan, with the Indian Navy’s indigenous Stealth Frigate INS Shivalik arriving to participate. This bilateral exercise, which began in 2012, aims to enhance the maritime cooperation between the two nations.

Upon arrival, INS Shivalik received a warm welcome from Vice Admiral ITO Hiroshi, Commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Yokosuka District, and Ambassador Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan.

JIMEX-24 includes both harbour and sea phases. The harbour phase features professional, sports, and social interactions, allowing the two navies to engage in cultural exchanges and build camaraderie. Following this, the navies will move to the sea phase, where they will jointly hone their warfighting skills and enhance interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations across surface, sub-surface, and air domains.

The Indian Navy is represented by INS Shivalik, while the JMSDF is represented by the Guided Missile Destroyer JS Yugiri. Integral helicopters from both navies will also participate in the joint exercises, demonstrating the growing scope and complexity of JIMEX over the years.

JIMEX-24 provides a significant opportunity for both navies to learn from each other’s best practices, facilitating operational interactions and fostering mutual cooperation. This exercise reaffirms the shared commitment of India and Japan towards maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.