JIMEX 2022

September 14, 2022

The sixth edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX 22) was kicked off on September 11, 2022.

Key facts

The JIMEX 2022 is currently being hosted by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.
India is being represented by three indigenously designed and built warships.
These are Sahyadri (a multi-purpose stealth frigate) and two Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes Kadmatt and Kavaratti.
Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay, Fleet Tanker Jyoti, Offshore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship-borne helicopters are also participating in this exercise.
The Japanese side is being represented by Izumo, a Helicopter Carrier, and Takanami, a Guided Missile Destroyer.
The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) vessels are commanded by Rear Admiral Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four and the Indian Naval ships are commanded by Rear Admiral R Adm Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
The joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the JMSDF involves two phases – the sea phase and the harbour phase.
The harbour phase will be hosted in Visakhapatnam, Kerala.
This edition marks the 10^th anniversary of JIMEX, which took place for the first time in 2012 in Japan.
It also coincides with the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
This exercise takes place just few days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Tokyo to attend the 2+2 India-Japan ministerial dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada.
The aim of this bilateral exercise is to improve interoperability between the two countries’ maritime forces through exercises in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.
It also seeks to streamline seamanship and communication procedures between the two countries.
It is part of a larger effort to improve the safety and security of international shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).