India, South Korea launch first-ever bilateral naval exercise

• Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri reached Busan Naval Harbour in South Korea to participate in the maiden bilateral exercise between the navies of the two countries.

• The ship’s ongoing operational deployment to the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific underscores India’s stature as a responsible maritime stakeholder and preferred security partner.

• Indigenously designed, constructed, and commissioned in 2012, INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the Shivalik-class guided missile stealth frigates.

• During the visit, the ship’s crew will participate in the harbour and the sea phase of the inaugural edition of the Indian Navy (IN) – Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) bilateral exercise.

• As part of the harbour phase, officials of Indian and South Korean navies will engage in reciprocal cross-deck visits, sharing of best practices, cross-training sessions, and sport fixtures.

• The navy-to-navy interactions between India and South Korea have grown significantly in recent years, along with their strategic partnership. 

• The ongoing inaugural IN-RoKN bilateral exercise is the culmination of years of discussions and planning between the two navies.