The Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will conduct Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) 2013 in waters off the Indian coast in the Bay of Bengal from 19 to 22 December 2013.
During the four-day bilateral naval exercise, personnel from the two navies will conduct harbour and sea phases, lasting two days each.
In addition to undertaking planning for joint operations for the sea phase, the harbour phase involves exchange of experiences through professional interactions.
The Indian Navy’s Mazagon Dock (MDL)-built Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Satpura (F48), the Rajput-class guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay (D55) and Khukri class corvette INS Kuthar (P46) will take part in the exercise.
During the sea phase of the exercise, navy personnel from both the nations will perform exercises including visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, frequently undertaken during anti-piracy operations.
The crew will also conduct gun firing and cross deck Helo operations, as well as operations in anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air threat scenarios, as part of the sea phase.
Two of JMSDF’s guided missile destroyers, JS Ariake (with Commander Escort Division – 7 embarked), and JS Setogiri will also participate in the drill, which focuses on maritime security cooperation.
The first JIMEX was performed off Japan in January 2012 while JIMEX 2013 is the second round of the bilateral drill and the first to be conducted in Indian waters.
JIMEX 2013 aims to enhance interoperability while enabling the participating navies to conduct maritime security operations in the future.
India and Japan agreed to conduct bilateral naval exercises in Nov 2011.
