Japan-India Bilateral Maritime Exercise

The sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 2022) hosted by Indian Navy was held in the Bay of Bengal on Sept 11-18, 2022.

The series of drills saw the participation of  ships from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Escort Flotilla Four and Indian naval vessels from the Eastern Fleet.

JMSDF deployed their helicopter carrier JS Izumo, and guided-missile destroyer JS Takanami. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy were represented by three indigenously designed and built warships-,  multi-purpose stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, submarine warfare corvettes INS Kadmatt and INS Kavaratti, guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay, fleet tanker INS Jyoti, offshore patrol vessel INS Sukanya,  submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship borne helicopters.

JIMEX 2022 involves two phases-exercises at sea and a harbour phase at Visakhapatnam. The series of drills involved witnessed some of the most complex exercises undertaken jointly by the two navies. Both sides engaged in advanced level anti-submarine warfare, weapon firings and Air Defence exercises. Shipborne helicopters, fighter aircraft and submarines also participated in the exercise. Indian Navy and JMSDF ships replenished each other at sea under the agreement on reciprocal provision for supply and services.

This edition marks the 10th anniversary of JIMEX, which began in Japan in 2012. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of establishing of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. JIMEX 2022 seeks to consolidate the high degree of interoperability that exists between maritime forces of the two countries, through complex exercises in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.  –shp/adj/aaa (Image: Indian Navy)