BUSAN, South Korea — The Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy began their first bilateral maritime exercise this week in Busan, marking a major step forward in defense cooperation and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth frigate, arrived at Busan Naval Harbor on Oct. 13 as part of its ongoing operational deployment to the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, according to the Indian Navy. The visit marks the start of the maiden India–South Korea naval exercise 2025.
The Republic of Korea Navy extended “a warm welcome underscoring the burgeoning Navy-to-Navy interactions and Strategic Partnership between the Governments of India and the Republic of Korea.”
Commissioned in 2012, Sahyadri is the third ship of the Shivalik class of guided-missile stealth frigates. It was indigenously designed, constructed and commissioned as part of India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative to promote self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The ship, based in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, has participated in multiple bilateral and multilateral exercises.
During the visit, Sahyadri’s crew will take part in both harbor and sea phases of the exercise. The harbor phase includes reciprocal cross-deck visits, sharing of best practices, cross-training sessions and sporting events. The ship’s commanding officer will also call on senior Republic of Korea Navy officials and local dignitaries.
The sea phase will feature joint maneuvers between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam, aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies.
According to the Indian Navy, the exercise reflects both nations’ growing recognition of the Indo-Pacific’s strategic importance and their commitment to building partnerships based on mutual interests. The event, the Navy said, is the culmination of years of discussions and planning between the two maritime forces.
The Navy added that Sahyadri’s ongoing deployment “underscores India’s stature as a responsible maritime stakeholder and Preferred Security Partner.”
