Indian warship in Japan to participate in IFR

Visakhapatnam: In pursuance of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, Indian Naval ship Sahyadri, currently on operational deployment to North West Pacific region and South China Sea, entered Sagami Bay, Japan on Wednesday. The ship will participate in the Inter-national Fleet Review organised by the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF). It will also undertake professional interactions in harbour as well as exercises at sea with the JMSDF.

 

India and Japan have historic cultural links dating back to the 9th Century AD. These have led to a natural affinity between the Indian and Japanese people. In August 2000, both countries established a ‘Global Partnership in the 21st Century’ and held the first ‘Compre-hensive Security Dial-ogue’ in 2001. 

 

India and Japan instituted the Defence Policy Dialogue in 2007 and the Maritime Affairs Dialogue in 2013. As part of their growing maritime interaction, India and Japan have commenced the JIMEX series of bilateral maritime exercises in 2012 off Yokosuka and in 2013 off Chennai. The JMSDF is also likely to participate in the International Fleet Review 2016 scheduled to be held in Febr-uary 2016 off the East Coast of India.

 

The visit of INS Sahyadri is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter-operability between navies of the two countries. INS ships had last visited Sasebo, Japan in July 2014. INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built warship of the Shivalik Class. Inducted into the Indian Navy on July 21, 2012, the multi-role stealth frigate, boasts of an impressive array of weaponry in her arsenal. Long range anti-ship missiles, medium and short range surface to air missiles augmented by powerful guns of different calibre provide a formidable shield against all types of surface and air threats.