In News:

The 6th edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian, a joint annual military exercisealternately hosted in India and Japan since 2018is scheduled from February 25 to March 9, 2025, at Mount Fuji, Japan.

Key Highlights:

Objectives:

• Strengthen Bilateral Defence Relations: Enhances military diplomacy under the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
• Promote Interoperability: Develops joint operational capabilities and tactical synergy in line with UN peacekeeping mandates (Chapter VII).
• Urban and Semi-Desert Warfare: Trains troops in counter-terrorism operations and urban combat scenarios.
• Regional Stability: Supports the Indo-Pacific security architecture and complements Quad defence objectives (India, Japan, US, Australia).

Key Features of Dharma Guardian 2025

• Advanced Tactical Training: Close-quarter battle drills, live-fire exercises, battlefield medical evacuation.
• Joint Counter-Terror Operations: Conducted under UN charter guidelines for multinational cooperation.
• 48-hour Validation Exercise: Simulated real-time combat for assessing operational readiness and coordination.
• ISR and Tactical Mobility Drills: Involves establishing temporary operating bases, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) grids, mobile vehicle checkpoints, and heliborne insertions.
• House Intervention & Search Operations: Practical training for securing urban areas against militant threats.
• Weapons & Equipment Display: Demonstrates India’s growing defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Mount Fuji – Host Site

• Geographical Significance: Japan’s highest peak at 3,776.24 meters, located 100 km southwest of Tokyo.
• Cultural Importance: Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2013) and revered as one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains.”
• Training Terrain: Its stratovolcanic landscape provides a realistic backdrop for high-altitude and rugged terrain operations.

Related India-Japan Military Exercises

India and Japan conduct a wide spectrum of bilateral and multilateral defense exercises across all services:

Exercise Name                                   Service Branch                            Focus Area         

Dharma Guardian                            Army                                         Land-based counter-terror and urban warfare

JIMEX                                                         Navy                                          Naval interoperability and maritime security

Malabar (Quad)                          Navy (Multilateral)                 Naval drills with US and Australia

Veer Guardian                                    Air Force                                    Air combat tactics and coordination

ShinyuuMaitri                                     Air Force                                    Air mobility and humanitarian operations