INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish, the Indian Navy's frontline stealth frigate and missile corvette, concluded their participation in the 23rd ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity (EWG-MS JCA) at Subic Bay in the Philippines, with the closing ceremony held on Friday.

Naval units from six countries sailed in the Sea Phase of the ADMM-Plus activity, which followed the Harbour Phase ashore. According to the Indian Navy, ships of the Philippine Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and United States Navy operated alongside the two Indian vessels.

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish in the ADMM-Plus Sea Phase

The Sea Phase ran coordinated serials in Search and Rescue, Hydrographic Survey, Casualty and Medical Evacuation, Deck Landing Qualification and assistance to vessels aground. The serials gave the participating navies practice in coordinated responses to maritime contingencies, the Navy said.


Cross-deck flying and grounded ships

Deck Landing Qualification certifies helicopter pilots to land on a given ship's deck. In a multinational serial, that means partner decks as well.

Harbour Phase at Naval Operating Base Subic

The activity opened on 21 September at Naval Operating Base Subic, hosted by the Philippine Navy and co-chaired by Japan. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges in the Harbour Phase covered four areas: Peace and Security, the ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting and Guidelines for Maritime Interaction (ANCM-GMI), Senior Enlisted Leadership, and Marine Environmental Protection. Sporting events, an International Day and a Cultural Show filled out the programme ashore.

On 22 September, Indian naval personnel took part in Operational Synchronisation and a Tabletop Exercise, followed by a Pre-Sail Conference to coordinate the Sea Phase.

A Community Engagement Programme was also held at the Shepherds of the Hill Center in Zambales.

Two ships on operational deployment

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish arrived at Subic Bay on 20 September as part of the Navy's operational deployment. INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class stealth frigate, the third of its class, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. INS Kulish is a Kora class guided missile corvette.

Earlier this month, Kulish became the first Indian Navy ship to call at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia.

Act East, MAHASAGAR and the Philippines

The Navy placed the participation in consonance with the Act East Policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR, short for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The same framing accompanied INS Mysore to Lumut for Samudra Laksamana with the Royal Malaysian Navy this month. India and the Philippines raised ties to a Strategic Partnership during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's state visit to New Delhi in August 2025, and the Philippines holds the ADMM chair this year.

The ADMM-Plus brings ASEAN member states together with eight Plus countries, India among them. Practical cooperation runs through Experts' Working Groups in seven areas, including maritime security, each co-chaired by one ASEAN member state and one Plus country over a three-year cycle. The first ADMM-Plus meeting was convened in Hanoi in October 2010.