The sixth edition of the Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022, JIMEX 22, hosted by the Indian Navy, ended on September 17, 2022 in the Bay of Bengal when the two sides bid farewell to each other with a customary steam flyby.
The week-long exercise featured Indian Navy ships led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, flag officer of the Eastern Fleet, and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships Izumo and Takanami, led by Rear Admiral Hirata Toshiyuki, commander of Escort Flotilla Four.
JIMEX 22 witnessed some of the most complex exercises conducted jointly by the two navies. Both sides engaged in advanced anti-submarine warfare, gunfire, and air defense exercises. Ship helicopters, fighter jets and submarines also took part in the exercise. Indian Navy and JMSDF vessels supplied each other at sea under the Mutual Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS).
The exercise, which marked the tenth anniversary of JIMEX since its inception in 2012, cemented mutual understanding and interoperability between the two navies.
The sixth edition of JIMEX 2022 hosted by the Indian Navy kicked off on September 11th in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Navy was represented by three locally designed and built warships, Sahyadri, a multi-role stealth frigate, and anti-submarine warfare corvettes Kadmatt and Kavaratti.
In addition, the guided missile destroyer Ranvijay, fleet tanker Jyoti, offshore patrol ship Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter jets, long-range sea patrol aircraft and shipborne helicopters also participated in the exercise, the Indian Navy press release said.
The Indian Navy ships welcomed the JMSDF ships Izumo, a helicopter carrier, and Takanami, a guided missile destroyer, upon their arrival in the Bay of Bengal, the publication added.
JIMEX 22 comprised two phases; Exercises at sea and a port phase in Visakhapatnam.
This edition also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. JIMEX 22 seeks to consolidate the high degree of interoperability between the two countries’ naval forces through complex surface, underwater and airborne exercises.
The exercises aimed to improve interoperability and streamline seamanship and communications procedures. This exercise was part of ongoing efforts between the two navies to ensure safe international shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The two countries have regularly held exercises in IOR to strengthen the maritime association.
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