Indian and South Korean Navies Conduct Joint Maritime Drills off Busan to Strengthen Operational Cooperation

The Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy have conducted a series of coordinated maritime drills off the coast of Busan, South Korea, as part of their bilateral naval exercise aimed at strengthening operational cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise involved the Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and the South Korean Navy’s guided-missile destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great, bringing together the two maritime forces for practical training in naval aviation, search-and-rescue operations and coordinated activities at sea.

According to an announcement attributed to the Embassy of India in Seoul on 2 November 2026, the sea phase included cross-deck helicopter landings, search-and-rescue drills and other coordinated maritime activities intended to improve the ability of the two navies to operate together. The exercise followed several days of professional engagements at Busan Naval Harbour, where personnel from both countries participated in training exchanges and interactions designed to strengthen mutual understanding and operational familiarity.

INS Sahyadri and ROKS Munmu the Great Conduct Coordinated Maritime Operations

The sea phase provided an opportunity for the participating warships to undertake joint activities under operational conditions, allowing their crews to practise established procedures and improve coordination between the two naval forces. Cross-deck helicopter landings formed an important component of the exercise, requiring shipborne aviation teams and flight crews to coordinate procedures involving aircraft handling, communication and deck operations.

Conducting helicopter operations between warships belonging to different navies requires careful coordination because operating procedures, equipment configurations and shipboard aviation arrangements may differ. Such training helps personnel become familiar with partner-navy procedures while improving the ability to undertake coordinated aviation activities during future maritime deployments and multinational operations.

Search-and-rescue drills were another important element of the sea phase. These exercises allow naval personnel to practise procedures for responding to emergencies at sea, coordinating communications and organising assistance when ships, aircraft or personnel encounter distress situations. Joint training in these activities contributes to the development of practical cooperation between maritime forces operating across the Indo-Pacific.

Following the completion of the bilateral maritime activities, INS Sahyadri departed to continue its subsequent operational mission. The exercise concluded another phase of the frigate’s overseas deployment, during which it has participated in engagements with several friendly foreign navies.

Harbour Phase Strengthens Professional Exchanges and Naval Coordination

INS Sahyadri arrived at Busan Naval Harbour on 26 October 2026 to participate in the bilateral exercise. The Ministry of Defence formally announced the visit on 28 October, describing it as an important step towards strengthening maritime cooperation and improving interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy.

The harbour phase, conducted from 26 to 29 October, included professional interactions, reciprocal visits aboard participating warships, cross-training activities and exchanges between subject-matter experts. These engagements allowed personnel from both navies to share operational experiences, discuss established practices and improve their understanding of procedures followed by their counterparts.

The programme also included sporting activities and an onboard reception, providing opportunities for naval personnel to strengthen professional relationships beyond formal operational training. Such interactions form an established component of bilateral naval exercises because sustained cooperation depends not only on technical compatibility but also on communication, mutual familiarity and confidence among participating crews.

India’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Gourangalal Das, also interacted with the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri, Captain Vikas Jha, and officers aboard the Indian warship. The ambassador attended an onboard reception alongside personnel from the Republic of Korea Navy, reflecting the diplomatic importance attached to the naval engagement.

Indigenous Stealth Frigate Highlights India’s Naval Shipbuilding Capabilities

INS Sahyadri is an indigenously designed and constructed guided-missile stealth frigate belonging to the Indian Navy’s Shivalik class. Commissioned in July 2012, the warship is the third vessel of the Project 17 class and forms part of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.

The frigate represents an important stage in India’s development of domestically constructed frontline warships incorporating stealth-oriented design features, integrated sensors and modern naval weapons. Its participation in overseas deployments and multinational exercises demonstrates the Indian Navy’s ability to employ indigenously built platforms during sustained operational engagements beyond India’s immediate maritime neighbourhood.

As a multirole surface combatant, INS Sahyadri is designed to undertake a range of naval missions, including maritime surveillance, fleet operations and activities requiring coordination with other maritime forces. Its deployment to the Republic of Korea provided an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of an Indian-built warship while strengthening professional relationships with a major Indo-Pacific naval partner.

The frigate has also participated in several international maritime engagements during its recent operational deployment, including Exercise INDRA 2026 with the Russian Navy and the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise held in the Philippines. These activities form part of the Indian Navy’s wider programme of operational cooperation with regional and international partners.

India and South Korea Expand Bilateral Naval Engagements

The latest exercise builds upon the expanding maritime relationship between India and the Republic of Korea. The two countries conducted the inaugural edition of their bilateral naval exercise in October 2025, when INS Sahyadri visited Busan as part of its operational deployment to the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific.

During the inaugural exercise, the Indian frigate participated in engagements with the Republic of Korea Navy that included professional exchanges, cross-training activities and coordinated maritime operations. The participation of INS Sahyadri in the 2026 exercise demonstrates the continuation of this bilateral training framework and the growing emphasis placed on practical naval cooperation.

The relationship between the two navies is supported by the broader India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership, which encompasses cooperation in defence, technology, industry and regional security. Regular naval engagements provide a practical mechanism for advancing this partnership by allowing personnel to develop familiarity with each other’s operating procedures and maritime capabilities.

The involvement of ROKS Munmu the Great also reflects the importance attached to the exercise by the Republic of Korea Navy. Operating alongside an Indian stealth frigate provides opportunities for the two forces to improve communications, coordinate manoeuvres and conduct training activities relevant to maritime operations involving ships from different naval organisations.

Bilateral Exercises Support Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific remains a strategically important maritime region because its sea lanes connect major economies, commercial ports and international energy markets. Ensuring the security and stability of these waters requires sustained engagement among maritime nations, particularly in areas involving navigation safety, emergency response and the protection of international shipping.

Bilateral naval exercises provide opportunities for participating countries to develop the operational familiarity required for effective cooperation. Activities such as coordinated manoeuvring, helicopter operations and search-and-rescue training help improve communication between naval units and establish procedures that may be useful during humanitarian assistance missions, maritime emergencies and multinational exercises.

For India, such engagements also complement the Indian Navy’s continuing efforts to build partnerships with friendly foreign maritime forces across the Indo-Pacific. Regular overseas deployments allow Indian warships to participate in operational training, strengthen diplomatic relationships and contribute to regional maritime cooperation.

The Ministry of Defence has emphasised that the India–Republic of Korea naval exercise reflects the shared commitment of both countries to promoting peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. The participation of INS Sahyadri and ROKS Munmu the Great demonstrates how this commitment is being translated into practical engagements between the two maritime services.

Strengthening Maritime Partnerships Through Sustained Operational Engagement

The completion of the sea phase off Busan marks another step in the development of bilateral naval cooperation between India and South Korea. By conducting practical drills involving aviation operations, search-and-rescue procedures and coordinated maritime activities, the two navies have continued efforts to improve their ability to work together during future operational engagements.

The exercise also highlights the role of India’s indigenously built warships in supporting defence diplomacy and international maritime partnerships. INS Sahyadri’s participation demonstrates how domestically developed naval platforms contribute not only to India’s own maritime security requirements but also to its engagement with partner nations across the Indo-Pacific.

As India and the Republic of Korea expand their strategic relationship, sustained naval cooperation offers opportunities to strengthen professional ties, improve operational coordination and develop greater familiarity between their maritime forces. The latest exercise reinforces the importance of regular bilateral training in building practical cooperation and supporting a stable maritime environment across the wider Indo-Pacific region.

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References

1. Ministry of Defence, Government of India — Press Information Bureau

Title: INS Sahyadri Arrives at Busan, Republic of Korea, for India-RoKN Bilateral Exercise

Published: 28 October 2026

Release ID: 2329562

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2329562

2. Ministry of Defence — Press Information Bureau

Title: Inaugural Edition of the India–Republic of Korea Navy Bilateral Exercise

Published: 14 October 2025

Release ID: 2179047

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2179047

3. Ministry of Defence — Press Information Bureau

Title: Conclusion of India-Russia Bilateral Naval Exercise (INDRA 2026)

Published: 23 October 2026

Release ID: 2327353

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2327353

4. Embassy of India, Seoul

Official communication: 2 November 2026

Subject: Completion of the sea phase of the India–Republic of Korea bilateral naval exercise, including cross-deck helicopter landings and search-and-rescue drills.

Official X account: @IndiainROK

The specific embassy post was reported by IANS but could not be independently retrieved for direct verification.

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