Indian naval ships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish are participating in the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, which began at Subic Bay in the Philippines on September 28.

The exercise, co-hosted by India and the Philippines, runs until October 2 and brings together warships and aircraft from across the ASEAN region.

The theme of this year’s edition is “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”, reflecting the shared interest of India and Southeast Asia in a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The harbour phase includes planning conferences and cultural exchanges, while the sea phase off Zambales will feature anti-submarine drills, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance exercises.

INS Sahyadri is a guided-missile stealth frigate, while INS Kulish is a missile corvette, both representing the Indian Navy’s eastern fleet. The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise was held in 2023 off Singapore. Officials said the second edition deepens maritime cooperation amid shared concerns over regional security.