Japan India Military Exercise JAIMEXA 2025.
Japan India Maritime Exercise JAIMEXA 2025: Yokosuka, Japan, October 22, 2025 — The growing strategic partnership between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region was once again on display as the two nations’ navies successfully conducted the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25), which took place from October 16 to 18, 2025. This exercise, a key component of the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries, included advanced maritime operations and underscores the shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, participated in the sea phase of the exercise, alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s (JMSDF) ships Asahi, Oumi, and Submarine Jinryu. The exercise focused on strengthening operational interoperability and enhancing tactical capabilities in critical areas such as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), missile defence, flying operations, and underway replenishment.
A Maritime Partnership in Action
The sea phase of JAIMEX-25 was marked by intense and coordinated drills, where both navies demonstrated their enhanced capabilities in conducting high-end maritime operations. Anti-Submarine Warfare drills are of particular significance, given the growing importance of securing vital sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific, an area increasingly contested due to strategic rivalries. Missile defence exercises further honed the two forces’ ability to respond to evolving threats, ensuring mutual readiness in a region marked by complex maritime security dynamics.
“The exercise exemplifies the growing interoperability between the Indian Navy and the JMSDF,” said a senior naval official. “The drills are crucial for enhancing our combined response to any threats in the maritime domain, which is increasingly becoming a centre of global strategic competition.”
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Harbour Phase at Yokosuka: Deepening Ties Through Collaboration
Following the sea phase, INS Sahyadri made a significant port call at Yokosuka on October 21, 2025, marking the commencement of the harbour phase of JAIMEX-25. The harbour phase is designed to deepen professional, cultural, and operational cooperation between the two navies. The crews of the participating vessels will engage in cross-deck visits, collaborative operational planning, and the sharing of best practices. Additionally, there will be a combined Yoga session designed to foster camaraderie and cultural exchange between the sailors.
The port visit at Yokosuka, which is home to the JMSDF’s Yokosuka Naval Base, also serves as a vital component of INS Sahyadri’s ongoing Long Range Deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. This deployment reflects India’s growing naval presence and engagement in one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime areas.
Japan India Military Exercise JAIMEXA 2025.
The Significance of the India-Japan Naval Relationship
The defence and maritime cooperation between India and Japan have evolved into a robust partnership, formalised under the Special Strategic and Global Partnership established in 2014. This partnership is increasingly seen as a cornerstone for ensuring peace, security, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. The Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX) serves as a prime example of the two countries’ joint efforts to strengthen maritime security, enhance mutual understanding, and expand their operational reach in the region.
In recent years, both India and Japan have become more active in multilateral security dialogues and exercises, focusing on freedom of navigation and ensuring the security of global sea lanes. This includes their participation in quadrilateral dialogues with the United States and Australia under the Quad framework, which aims to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In this context, the INS Sahyadri’s participation in JAIMEX-25 comes at a critical time, as both India and Japan seek to counter the growing security challenges posed by China’s increasing naval assertiveness in the region. The exercise also reflects the two nations’ shared values, such as democracy, freedom of navigation, and respect for international law.
INS Sahyadri: A Symbol of India’s Naval Ambitions
Commissioned in 2012, INS Sahyadri is a powerful symbol of India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence technology, aligning with the nation’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, the Shivalik-class frigate is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and systems that enable it to perform a wide range of naval operations, including anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.
INS Sahyadri has participated in various bilateral and multilateral naval exercises, including Malabar, Varuna, and the Asia Pacific Regional Dialogue (APRD), further demonstrating India’s growing naval power and its ability to collaborate effectively with regional and global maritime forces.
Broader Maritime Exercises Between India and Japan
JAIMEX-25 is part of a broader trend of increasing naval cooperation between India and Japan. Both nations have been involved in various bilateral maritime exercises, including:
Malabar Exercise: Initially a trilateral exercise between India, the United States, and Japan, Malabar has grown into a quadrilateral exercise with the inclusion of Australia. The exercise focuses on maritime security and cooperation, and it is widely seen as a counterbalance to rising regional tensions.
Japan-India Joint Defence Exercises: Both countries have also participated in various land and air defence joint training and exercises, further cementing their strategic partnership. These engagements are designed to enhance mutual understanding and improve interoperability in areas such as disaster relief, counterterrorism, and maritime security.
India-Japan Annual Defence Dialogue: As part of their broader military and defence cooperation, India and Japan hold annual defence dialogues to discuss a wide range of issues, including defence trade, technology exchange, and joint operations.
The collaboration between India and Japan in these exercises has proven to be mutually beneficial, allowing both countries to better safeguard their interests in the Indo-Pacific, an area that is increasingly seen as the centre of global geopolitical competition.
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Japan India Military Exercise JAIMEXA 2025.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific
The successful conduct of JAIMEX-25 underscores the deepening defence ties between India and Japan and their shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. As both countries continue to face growing challenges in the region, including issues related to maritime security, freedom of navigation, and regional stability, exercises like JAIMEX will play an increasingly pivotal role in fostering cooperation and enhancing readiness.
With India’s growing maritime presence and Japan’s advanced naval capabilities, the future of this strategic partnership holds the promise of a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific. The success of JAIMEX-25 is just one of many steps towards ensuring that both nations are prepared for the challenges ahead, with an unwavering focus on maintaining peace and promoting stability in the world’s most vital maritime region.
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