INS Sahyadri arrived at Busan Naval Harbour in South Korea to take part in the first-ever bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN), an official statement issued by the defence PRO said on Wednesday.
The visit is part of INS Sahyadri’s ongoing operational deployment to the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific, aimed at enhancing defence cooperation and maritime partnerships, it said.
The Republic of Korea Navy warmly welcomed the Indian warship, highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and South Korea, especially in the naval domain, it further said.
INS Sahyadri, a stealth frigate built in India under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, was commissioned in 2012. It is part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, based in Visakhapatnam, and has taken part in various international naval exercises.
During its stay in Busan, the ship’s crew will take part in both harbour and sea phases of the exercise.
The activities during the harbour phase include cross-deck visits between the two navies, sharing of best practices, joint training sessions and friendly sports matches.
The Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri will also meet senior RoKN officials and local dignitaries, the statement said.
It said that after the harbour phase, INS Sahyadri and the South Korean ship ROKS Gyeongnam will head out to sea for joint exercises, focusing on teamwork, coordination, and mutual learning between the two navies.
The exercise reflects the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the shared commitment of India and South Korea to peace, security, and maritime cooperation.
The statement further said that the inaugural bilateral exercise is the result of several years of discussion and planning, and marks a new chapter in defence ties between India and South Korea.