The inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) successfully culminated in the South China Sea on 08 May 2023. Approximately 1400 personnel manning nine ships participated in the Sea Phase of the multilateral naval exercise. India’s indigenously designed and built ships- destroyer INS Delhi and stealth frigate INS Satpura, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and integral helicopters exercised with ASEAN naval ships from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The two-day sea-phase witnessed a wide spectrum of evolutions at sea including tactical maneuvers, cross deck landings by helicopters, seamanship evolutions and other maritime operations. Apart from honing skills in the maritime domain the exercise enhanced interoperability and demonstrated the ability of Indian and ASEAN navies to operate as an integrated force to promote peace, stability and security in the region.