Defence
India And Japan Train To Counter Chinese Hostile Manoeuvres As Joint Maritime Exercise Begins At Viskhapatnam
- These exercises enable the navies to develop a deeper understanding of each other's operational capabilities, communication protocols, and strategic thinking.
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) guided-missile destroyer 'JS Samidare' at Vishkapatnam for JIMEX 2023. (Via PIB)
The seventh edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) is currently underway, hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.
This significant event, from 5-10 July 2023, marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX, which was first initiated in 2012.
Under the command of Rear Admiral Nishiyama Takahiro, Commander Escort Flotilla One, units from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) are participating in the exercise, alongside Indian Naval ships led by Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
The JIMEX 23 exercise includes participation from INS Delhi, India's first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, INS Kamorta, an anti-submarine warfare corvette designed and built in India, fleet tanker INS Shakti, a submarine, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Dornier, ship-borne helicopters, and fighter aircraft.
JMSDF will be represented by the guided missile destroyer JS Samidare and its integral helicopters.
Spanning six days, the exercise will be conducted in two phases.
Following this, in the second phase, the two navies will engage in joint operations at sea, honing their warfighting skills and strengthening their interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface, and air domains.
Over the years, JIMEX has evolved in scope and complexity.
The JIMEX exercises play a crucial role in training the Indian and Japanese navies to effectively counter the aggressive movements of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indian Ocean region.
These exercises enable the navies to develop a deeper understanding of each other's operational capabilities, communication protocols, and strategic thinking.
By conducting complex maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and air defence exercises, the Indian and Japanese navies gain valuable insights into countering the PLAN's aggressive manoeuvres effectively.
