Indian Navy News – On February 24, 2025, the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commenced the 6th edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) 2025, in the East Fuji Manoeuvre Training Area off Japan’s coast.
The exercise, running until March 9, 2025, focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two navies through complex operations, including
- anti-submarine warfare,
- air defence drills, and
- cross-deck helicopter operations.
This follows the 5th edition of JIMEX held in the Arabian Sea in October 2021, reflecting the deepening maritime partnership between India and Japan.
The Indian Navy’s contingent includes INS Shivalik, a stealth frigate, and INS Kamorta, an anti-submarine corvette, accompanied by a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters.
The JMSDF is represented by JS Izumo, a helicopter carrier, and JS Takanami, a guided-missile destroyer, along with its aircraft.
The exercise aims to strengthen coordination in surface, sub-surface, and air domains, building on the mutual logistics support agreement signed in September 2020.
This collaboration aligns with both nations’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, amid growing concerns over China’s maritime assertiveness.
JIMEX 2025 also includes tactical maneuvers and joint planning for disaster response, highlighting the strategic alignment between India and Japan. The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the exercise fosters trust and understanding, essential for addressing shared maritime challenges.
However, some analysts question whether such exercises can effectively counterbalance China’s influence, given the lack of a formal alliance obligating mutual defence.
The exercise underscores India and Japan’s broader cooperation within the Quad framework, alongside the US and Australia, as seen in exercises like Malabar.