India, Japan conduct 6th edition of maritime exercise ‘JIMEX’

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) took place in the Bay of Bengal earlier this week, with “bridges of friendship” and interoperability between the two Indo-Pacific nations being a predominant theme.

The exercise, which commenced on 11 September, took place days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Tokyo for the 2+2 India-Japan ministerial dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada.

As part of the two phases of JIMEX, which involves exercises at sea and a harbour phase in Visakhapatnam, Japan was represented by two of its Maritime Self-Defense Force Ships (JMSDF) — Izumo, a helicopter carrier, and Takanami, a guided missile destroyer.

India, meanwhile, brought three of its indigenously-built naval warships, two of which are Anti Submarine Warfare Corvettes in Kadmatt and Kavaratti, and a multi-purpose stealth frigate in the Sahyadri.

“Additionally, Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay, Fleet Tanker Jyoti, Offshore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship borne helicopters are also participating in the exercise,” the Indian Navy said.

The sixth edition of JIMEX is not only significant due to India and Japan’s involvement in the Quad, but the occasion also marks 10 years since the exercise’s first edition. It is also 70 years since diplomatic relations between India and Japan were established.

“JIMEX 22 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,” the Navy added.

On 8 September, the 2+2 India-Japan ministerial dialogue had resulted in a joint statement, revealing Japan’s “determination to fundamentally reinforce…defence capabilities” and India’s “support to work towards enhanced security and defence cooperation”.

India and Japan…also decided that the air forces of both sides will soon be conducting an ‘India-Japan Fighter Exercise’ even as they planned to make continuous efforts towards more complex and sophisticated bilateral exercise. (The Print)