India–South Korea Hold First Bilateral Naval Exercise IN–RoKN

In a landmark development for Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation, the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) have commenced their first bilateral naval exercise, IN–RoKN, on October 13, 2025, at the Busan Naval Base, South Korea. This inaugural exercise marks a new chapter in the strategic partnership between the two nations, focused on enhancing naval interoperability, trust, and regional stability.

Structure of the Exercise: Two Phases

Harbour Phase

The initial segment of the IN–RoKN exercise is the Harbour Phase, aimed at building mutual understanding and professional camaraderie. Key highlights include,

• Cross-deck visits between Indian and Korean ships
• Professional exchanges and sharing of best practices
• Cross-training sessions in ship operations
• Sports events to build interpersonal bonds
• Courtesy visits by the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri to senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries

These engagements foster tactical familiarity and open communication channels crucial during combined maritime operations.

Sea Phase

The Sea Phase is focused on high-level joint operations, involving,

• Complex maritime manoeuvres
• Operational exercises in tactical coordination
• Real-time interoperability drills between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam
• Such drills are vital for ensuring both navies can work seamlessly during joint missions, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, or security patrols in the Indo-Pacific.

India’s Naval Contribution: INS Sahyadri

The Indian Navy is represented by the INS Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class stealth frigate commissioned in 2012. The ship is part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

Key features of INS Sahyadri,

• Fully indigenously designed and constructed
• Embodies India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative
• Equipped with modern stealth features, advanced weaponry, and sensors
• INS Sahyadri symbolizes India’s domestic shipbuilding capabilities and its growing role as a security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.

Strategic Significance of IN–RoKN

As the Indo-Pacific region becomes increasingly central to global trade and security, maritime partnerships like IN–RoKN are crucial.

This bilateral exercise,

• Reinforces India–South Korea strategic ties
• Demonstrates a shared commitment to a rules-based maritime order
• Supports regional security architecture through joint naval readiness

Both nations uphold common values of peace, freedom of navigation, and respect for international law, especially in the context of rising tensions and grey-zone threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Ready facts

• Exercise name: IN–RoKN
• Start date: 13th October 2025
• Location: Busan Naval Base, South Korea
• Indian ship: INS Sahyadri (Shivalik-class frigate)
• South Korean ship: ROKS Gyeongnam
• Exercise structure: Harbour Phase + Sea Phase