INS Sahyadri begins sea phase of India-South Korea naval exercise in Busan
Synopsis
INS Sahyadri, India's indigenously built stealth frigate, has sailed out from Busan to begin the sea phase of the India-South Korea bilateral naval exercise — capping a four-day harbour stint that included cross-deck visits, expert exchanges, and a diplomatic reception. The exercise is a tangible signal of deepening Indo-Pacific maritime ties between New Delhi and Seoul.
Key Takeaways
INS Sahyadri sailed out from Busan Naval Harbour on 29 October 2026 for the sea phase of the IN-RoKN bilateral exercise.
The harbour phase ran from 26–29 October and included cross-deck visits, subject matter expert exchanges, sporting events, and an onboard reception.
South Korea's guided missile destroyer ROKS Munmu The Great is the Indian Navy's counterpart in the exercise.
India's Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das , attended the onboard reception and met Commanding Officer Captain Vikas Jha .
INS Sahyadri is an indigenously designed and built guided missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy .
The exercise aims to strengthen operational coordination, interoperability, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific .
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously designed and built guided missile stealth frigate, sailed out from Busan Naval Harbour on 29 October 2026 to commence the sea phase of the India-Republic of Korea Navy (IN-RoKN) bilateral exercise, following a productive harbour phase alongside South Korea's guided missile destroyer ROKS Munmu The Great. The exercise marks a fresh step in deepening maritime interoperability between the two navies in the Indo-Pacific.
Harbour Phase Highlights
The harbour phase, conducted from 26 to 29 October 2026 at Busan, featured professional exchanges, cross-deck visits with subject matter expert interactions, sporting fixtures, and an onboard reception. According to the Indian Embassy in Seoul, which posted an update on X, these activities were designed to foster people-to-people connections and strengthen bonds between the two naval forces.
India's Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das, visited the ship on Wednesday, interacting with the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri, Captain Vikas Jha, and the vessel's officers. He also attended the onboard reception alongside officers of the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).
What the Sea Phase Involves
The sea phase will involve coordinated maritime activities between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Munmu The Great, providing both navies an opportunity to strengthen operational coordination and enhance interoperability. The Ministry of Defence noted that the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri would also call on senior Korean naval officials during the visit.
INS Sahyadri arrived at Busan on 26 October and was accorded a warm welcome by the RoKN, which the Ministry described as reflecting the 'growing engagement and enduring strategic partnership' between the two nations.
Strategic Significance for Indo-Pacific
The IN-RoKN exercise underscores both countries' shared commitment to maritime security, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This comes amid India's sustained efforts to build operational partnerships with friendly foreign navies across the region, as New Delhi deepens its strategic outreach through bilateral military engagements.
Notably, INS Sahyadri is a product of India's indigenous warship-building programme, making its deployment in such exercises a demonstration of both diplomatic intent and domestic defence capability. The bilateral exercise with South Korea adds to a growing roster of India's naval engagements in the broader Asia-Pacific theatre.
Looking Ahead
With the sea phase now underway, both navies are expected to conduct coordinated drills consolidating professional ties. The outcome of this exercise will likely feed into the broader India-South Korea strategic partnership agenda, which has expanded significantly in recent years across defence, trade, and technology.
Point of View
And South Korea is an increasingly important node. What makes this deployment noteworthy is the choice of INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built platform, rather than an older imported vessel — a quiet but deliberate piece of defence diplomacy. As India's Navy expands its operational footprint from the Persian Gulf to the Western Pacific, exercises like this one build the muscle memory of interoperability that matters when real contingencies arise. The question is whether these bilateral drills are being matched by the policy architecture — rules of engagement, logistics arrangements, information-sharing protocols — that would make the partnerships functional under pressure.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-South Korea IN-RoKN bilateral naval exercise?
The IN-RoKN exercise is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy, aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The current edition involves INS Sahyadri from India and ROKS Munmu The Great from South Korea, with a harbour phase in Busan followed by coordinated sea drills.
What happened during the harbour phase of the exercise in Busan?
From 26 to 29 October 2026, the harbour phase included cross-deck visits, subject matter expert exchanges, sporting events, and an onboard reception. India's Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das, also attended the reception and met Commanding Officer Captain Vikas Jha aboard INS Sahyadri.
What is INS Sahyadri and why is it significant?
INS Sahyadri is an indigenously designed and built guided missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. Its deployment in international bilateral exercises highlights India's growing defence manufacturing capability and its intent to project naval strength using domestically produced warships.
Why does the India-South Korea naval exercise matter for the Indo-Pacific?
The exercise reflects both countries' shared commitment to maritime security, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. It is part of India's broader strategy to build interoperability and enduring partnerships with friendly navies across the Asia-Pacific, strengthening the India-South Korea strategic partnership.
What activities are planned for the sea phase?
The sea phase, which began on 29 October 2026, will involve coordinated maritime activities between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Munmu The Great. These drills are designed to strengthen operational coordination and consolidate professional ties between the two navies, according to the Ministry of Defence.
