The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate, INS Shivalik, has docked at Yokosuka, ready to engage in the eighth edition of the bilateral Japan-India maritime exercise, ‘JIMEX 24’. This exercise, which has evolved in scope and complexity, serves as a valuable platform for the Indian Navy and JMSDF to share and learn from each other’s best practices, fostering a sense of optimism for a safer future and stronger maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
“Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, ‘JIMEX 24’ provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and facilitates operational interactions between IN (Indian Navy) and JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment towards maritime security in the Indo-Pacific,” a Navy spokesperson said in a statement. The officials said Vice Adm Ito Hiroshi, Commander JMSDF Yokosuka District, and Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan, welcomed the ship.
The joint exercise, a testament to our shared commitment and collaborative spirit, encompasses both harbour and sea phases. The harbour phase, a blend of professional, sports, and social interactions, sets the stage for the two navies to sharpen their warfighting skills at sea jointly. This exercise is a unique opportunity for us to enhance our interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface, and air domains. The participation of INS Shivalik and guided-missile destroyer J S Yugiri, representing the JMSDF, further strengthens our bond. It is worth noting that integrative helicopters from both navies will also play a crucial role in this joint endeavour.
Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, JIMEX 24 provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices. It facilitates operational interactions between IN and JMSDF to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment to maritime security in the Indo–Pacific.
Team BharatShakti
