**INS Sahyadri Arrives in South Korea for First-Ever India-RoKN Bilateral Naval Exercise**
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 added.
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.
INS Sahyadri is a stealth frigate built in India under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and was commissioned in 2012. It forms part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, based in Visakhapatnam, and has participated in various international naval exercises.
During its stay in Busan, the ship’s crew will engage in both harbour and sea phases of the exercise. 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 noted.
Following 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.
This exercise underscores the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region and reflects the shared commitment of India and South Korea to peace, security, and maritime cooperation.
According to the statement, this inaugural bilateral exercise is the culmination of several years of discussion and planning and marks a new chapter in defence ties between India and South Korea.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/indian-and-south-korean-navies-begin-first-ever-bilateral-naval-exercise-ins-sahyadri-joins-23598869