New Delhi, Feb 17 (Representative) India and Japan will on Friday kick off the 4th edition of joint military exercise, ‘Ex Dharma Guardian’, between their armies at Camp Imazu in Shiga province, Japan, to boost inter-operability and share best practices in tactics and techniques. The exercise come days after the two countries held their second Joint Air Defense Exercise named “Veer Guardian 2023” at Hyakuri Air Base, near Tokyo in Japan last month. The annual ‘Ex Dharma Guardian’ exercise will last till March 2. This annual training event is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations “in the backdrop of the current global situation”, said a statement. The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi urban or urban terrain. Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment and an Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force are participating in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during various operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning and execution. The Indian Army contingent arrived at the exercise location on February 12. This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN Mandate. It will also help develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies. The training will focus primarily on a high degree of physical fitness and sharing of drills at the tactical level.
During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions, ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of establishing integrated surveillance grids, including employment of aerial assets, the statement said. The joint exercise will facilitate both armies to know each other better, share their wide experiences and enhance their situational awareness. “Exercise Dharma Guardian” will further enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces, furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations, the statement added. On January 16, the two nations launched their second Joint Air Defense Exercise named “Veer Guardian 2023” at Hyakuri Air Base, near Tokyo in Japan. Four Sukhoi-30MKI fighters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF) eight F-2 and F-15 fighters participated in the fortnight-long drill. The exercise was aimed at conducting multi-domain air combat operations in a complex environment and deepen their mutual operational understanding while fostering closer defence cooperation.
The joint air exercises were widely covered in the Chinese media. The ‘Dharma Guardian’ exercise is being held as Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Awaji made a port call at Kochi from February 14 -16. Capt Nakai Eichi, Commander, Minesweeper Division One along with Commanding Officers of JS Uraga and JS Awaji called on Commodore Upal Kundu, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Southern Naval Command and discussed matters of mutual interest.The ship’s crew visited professional training schools and ship of Southern Naval Command. During the visit, they were familarised with various training facilities and activities undertaken at the Training Command of the Indian Navy. Visit and professional interaction onboard Japanese ships were conducted to enhance interoperability and share best practices between the Navies, a statement said.