Japan India maritime exercise: Stealth frigate to MiG 29K jet showcased in vizag

Visakhapatnam : The sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise-2022 (JIMEX 22) has begun in the Bay of Bengal. Indian Navy ships will welcome JMSDF ships in the Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, the ships will participate in several complex exercises in all three domains of maritime warfare - surface, subsurface, and air.

Rear Adm Sanjay Bhalla, FOCEF said JMSDF is being represented by JS Ship `Izumo', a Helicopter Destroyer, and Takanami – a Guided Missile Destroyer. Indian Navy is represented by three indigenously designed and built warships, `Sahyadri', a multi-purpose stealth frigate, and Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes `Kadmatt' and `Kavaratti'.

Additionally, Guided Missile Destroyer `Ranvijay', Fleet Tanker `Jyoti', Offshore Patrol Vessel `Sukanya', Submarines, MiG 29K fighter aircraft, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and a number of ship-borne helicopters are also participating in the exercise. JIMEX 22 involves two phases at sea and a harbor phase at Visakhapatnam. Sea Phase I has been completed successfully on Wednesday and the participating ships are in Visakhapatnam for the harbor phase.

The Harbour phase of JIMEX, includes professional interactions, cross-deck visits, and sports exchanges between the crew of participating units of both countries. "This exercise will culminate with Sea Phase II in the central Bay of Bengal. . Navy to Navy Cooperation. Indian Navy and JMSDF share close bonds of friendship consolidated over the years through bilateral exercises, ship visits, joint training, and regular interactions at all levels. This year's JIMEX seeks to further strengthen our collaboration, mutual understanding, and responses to common security challenges," Sanjay Bhalla said.

"We are looking at taking the high degree of interoperability between our navies to the next level by jointly participating in complex and sophisticated exercises during JIMEX. This year's exercise has advanced exercises in all 3 domains – surface, sub-surface, and air. The two countries share strong and close defence cooperation. The signing of the Implementing Arrangement (IA) for Deeper Cooperation in Areas of Maritime Security and Maritime Domain Awareness1 in 2018, has elevated the bilateral relationship to Special Strategic Global Partnership," Sanjay Bhalla said.