Japan-India Maritime Exercise JAIMEX 2025 Strengthens Naval Ties and Indo-Pacific Security
India and Japan have successfully concluded the fourth edition of their bilateral maritime engagement, the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX 2025), held in the Western Pacific Ocean from October 16 to 18, 2025, followed by a harbour phase at Yokosuka, Japan, on October 21. The exercise reinforced strategic trust, operational synergy, and the shared vision of a Free, Open, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific between the two nations.
Key Participants and Phases
The Indian Navy deployed its indigenously built INS Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class guided missile stealth frigate, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) fielded the destroyers JS Asahi and JS Oumi, along with the advanced submarine Jinryu.
The exercise featured two operational phases:
- Sea Phase (16–18 October) – Focused on tactical warfare maneuvers, high-end Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations, missile defence drills, flying operations, and underway replenishment activities to enhance interoperability.
- Harbour Phase (21 October, Yokosuka) – Included professional cross-deck visits, collaborative operational planning, sharing of best practices, and a combined Yoga session promoting camaraderie and cultural understanding among naval crews.
Strategic Significance
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, JAIMEX-25 reflects the “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” between India and Japan established in 2014, which serves as a critical pillar for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation, adherence to international maritime law, and cooperation against common challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and undersea threats.
The exercise strengthens coordinated maritime domain awareness (MDA) between the two navies, refining joint tactical capabilities crucial for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR) operations, and regional crisis management.
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Indo-Pacific Cooperation and Defence Diplomacy
JAIMEX-25 also underlines the rapidly expanding India-Japan defence cooperation, which forms the cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific security architecture. The Indian Navy and JMSDF have emerged as key enablers of regional maritime stability, frequently coordinating through broader platforms like Quad Naval Exercises (with the US and Australia) and multilateral operations promoting safe seas.
Other bilateral military exercises include:
- Malabar (Naval Exercise) – India, Japan, USA, and Australia
- Dharma Guardian (Army Exercise)
- Veer Guardian (Air Force Exercise)
Together, these engagements form a comprehensive framework for joint defence readiness, strategic trust, and technological exchange.
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INS Sahyadri: Symbol of India’s Self-Reliance
The Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri (F49) symbolizes India’s growing maritime self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Commissioned in 2012, it is equipped with stealth technologies, missile systems, and advanced radar and sonar suites. The frigate plays a central role in the Navy’s long-range Indo-Pacific deployment and has also participated in RIMPAC and AUSINDEX exercises.
INS Sahyadri’s participation embodies India’s focus on indigenous defence manufacturing, demonstrating the country’s capacity to operate seamlessly in complex, multistage maritime drills conducted with advanced naval forces like Japan’s JMSDF.
Highlights of JAIMEX 2025
- Advanced ASW and missile defence operations tested coordination between surface and submarine assets.
- A joint underway replenishment exercise validated both navies’ refueling and resupply interoperability.
- Flying operations involving integrated maritime helicopters enhanced real-time tactical coordination.
- Harbour phase activities like Yoga and cultural exchanges highlighted the exercise’s people-to-people dimension.
The joint fleet manoeuvres further validated the technologies supporting Network-Centric Warfare (NCW), a growing focus area within Indo-Pacific naval coalitions.
Statements from Defence Officials
The Japanese Maritime Staff Office praised the robust nature of the partnership, emphasizing that JAIMEX 2025 “demonstrates the trust and transparency between two technologically advanced navies committed to peace and stability.”
India’s Defence Ministry echoed the sentiment, stating:
“The strong and burgeoning Navy-to-Navy engagement underpins mutual respect and confidence. JAIMEX-25 reinforces cooperation in maritime safety, defence technology, and shared strategic values in the Indo-Pacific.”
Broader Implications for Regional Security
The completion of JAIMEX-25 comes amid heightened global attention on Indo-Pacific maritime routes and the increasing need for naval coordination. The exercise signals a proactive shift towards collective maritime resilience, aligning with frameworks like India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.
Together, India and Japan demonstrate that security cooperation rooted in transparency and technology can ensure open sea lanes, promote disaster relief preparedness, and maintain regional equilibrium.
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Conclusion
The Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2025 (JAIMEX-25) is more than a naval drill — it represents the synergy between two democracies shaping Asia’s maritime future. By blending military precision, strategic trust, and cultural diplomacy, the exercise strengthens the Indo-Pacific’s collective ability to deter threats and ensure peace.
As both nations continue expanding cooperation across sea, air, and cyber domains, JAIMEX will remain a defining element of the India-Japan partnership — fostering maritime security and harmony across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
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