INS Surat of the Indian Navy and JS Takanami (DD-110) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai on 8 July 2026, reinforcing bilateral maritime ties.
A Passing Exercise (PASSEX) is a short-notice, at-sea drill conducted when two allied or friendly naval vessels meet en route — testing communication, coordination and interoperability without a pre-scheduled port call.
INS Surat, a Project 15B guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, represented India in the drill — one of the most advanced surface combatants currently in service with the Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.
JS Takanami (DD-110), a Takanami-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), joined the exercise — reflecting Japan's growing forward naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region amid deepening India-Japan defence ties.