Amphex 2025: Amphibious exercise by Army’s Southern Command, Navy, IAF underway at Karwar

Every two years, the integrated exercise witnesses the participation of Navy’s amphibious ships, including Large Platform Dock, Landing Ships and Landing Crafts, along with Marine Commandos (MARCOS), helicopters and aircraft. The Army participates in the exercise with troops from the Special Forces, Artillery and Armoured vehicles, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed fighter and transport assets for the exercise.

The event was witnessed by Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, the three Vice Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force, General Officer Commanding Bison Division and other senior dignitaries from tri-services.

A post on X by Army’s Southern Command read, “Amphibious warriors of Sudarshan Chakra Corps, alongside the Indian Navy, are conducting seamless drills during the Tri Services biennial exercise Amphex 25 at Karwar. Showcasing a unified approach to mobilisation, meticulous planning and the execution of complex amphibious operations, the exercise marks a significant step in jointmanship. It reinforces operational synergy and excellence in integrated warfare.”

Another post by the Southern Command read, “Validation phase of Amphex 25 showcasing high standards of operational resoluteness, Seamless synergy, jointmanship and combat punch culminated with bold and imaginative application of Integrated Amphibious Task Force. Speed and shock effect by land force using force multipliers was evident on the target end.”

Amphex coincides with Navy’s Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise (Tropex).
Navy shared on X that Amphex 25 showcased seamless coordination, rigorous training, and integrated mission planning by the amphibious ‘Bisons’ of Sudarshan Chakra Corps of the Southern Command and ships of the Navy.

“Amphibious landing, an embodiment of joint operations. Onboard INS Jalashwa, the senior officers witnessed an amphibious landing by the 91 Infantry Brigade. The exercise progressed through bunker busting, combat free fall by Marine Commandos of the Indian Navy, and the landing of troops and BMPs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) by Landing Craft Mechanised and Landing Craft Assault, culminating in the establishment of a beachhead,” the Navy stated.

The conduct and Tropex and Amphex also witnessed Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew along with Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral K Swaminathan, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SP Dharkar and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar, Director General Infantry embarking on aircraft-carrier INS Vikrant off the West coast on January 30, to witness joint phase of Tropex.

The visit was aimed at providing an insight to the senior hierarchy on maritime operations. Further, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S P Dharkar embarked on INS Vikrant in a Mig 29K trainer aircraft.

The overnight sea sortie was part of Tropex and Amphex where joint operations between the Navy, Army and Air Force were conducted.