Flying the South Korean flag Taegeukgi high against a stiff Bay of Bengal wind, the 4,400-ton destroyer ROKS Gang Gam-chan cruised in tight formation alongside 18 other flag-bearing warships, cutting a steady line through rolling swells. From the press boat trailing the formation, her angular silhouette and brownish-gray hull stood out sharply under the tropical sun — a visible symbol of Seoul’s growing blue-water ambitions.
At the heart of the spectacle was the host, the Indian Navy, showcasing the rapid transformation of its fleet — from coastal defense to full-spectrum ocean-going force. The review was the third such event hosted by India, following earlier editions in 2001 and 2016.
Among the multinational lineup, Gang Gam-chan — the fifth vessel of South Korea’s Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers — stood out.
Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and commissioned in 2007, the KDX-II-class vessel represents the backbone of the Republic of Korea Navy’s long-range surface fleet. Designed for anti-submarine, anti-air and surface warfare, she has participated in distant deployment missions, including anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
During the live broadcast by Doordarshan, commentators singled out the Korean destroyer as a core “blue-water asset,” highlighting its record in international maritime security operations.
From the bridge wing, Korean sailors in white dress uniforms saluted as the formation passed the reviewing stand, where President Droupadi Murmu observed the parade.
The event’s theme — “United Through Oceans” — was echoed in her address, in which she stressed collective responsibility and cooperative action among like-minded maritime partners.
The setting carried historical weight.
These same waters once carried merchant vessels linking the Indus Valley, Southeast Asia and East Africa, and later the naval expeditions of the Chola Empire in the 11th century.
On Wednesday, they hosted satellite-linked destroyers, stealth frigates and an aircraft carrier — a vivid illustration of how India’s maritime legacy has evolved into modern sea power.
Leading the host nation’s formation was India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, followed by the Project 15B destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and the stealth frigate INS Nilgiri — centerpieces of New Delhi’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” self-reliance strategy.
Behind them sailed vessels from key Indo-Pacific partners, including Australia and Japan, reinforcing the review’s message of collective security.
For South Korea, Gang Gam-chan’s appearance was more than ceremonial.
She departed Jeju Naval Base on Jan. 30 to join the fleet review before taking part in the ensuing seven-days MILAN naval exercise until Feb. 25 — meaning 'meeting' in Hindi — symbolizing Seoul’s growing operational reach across the Indian Ocean.
In parallel with the sea review, the Republic of Korea Navy delegation, led by Rear Adm. Kim Kyung-cheol, attended the plenary session of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium for the first time as an observer. The delegation held bilateral meetings and promoted Korea’s “total solution” approach to naval logistics and defense exports.
Officials said the outreach reflects Seoul’s broader effort to link operational deployments with defense-industry diplomacy.
From the press vantage point, the choreography was precise.
Each ship maintained exact intervals. Helicopters hovered briefly overhead. Signal flags snapped in unison. Even in moderate swells, the column remained steady — a moving demonstration of interoperability.
Industry and defense analysts watching from shore said the review underscored how maritime security in the Indo-Pacific is increasingly shaped by networks rather than individual navies.
While large aircraft and maritime patrol planes roared faintly beyond the horizon, Gang Gam-chan continued her measured advance, radar masts scanning and wake trailing cleanly behind her stern.
On waters once ruled by sail and monsoon winds, South Korea’s gray-hulled destroyer now sailed as part of a multinational security web — a quiet but unmistakable statement of its place in a changing maritime order.
As the formation dispersed toward sunset, the Korean vessel turned eastward, her navigation lights blinking on one by one — carrying with her the message that in today’s Indo-Pacific, presence itself has become policy.
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