Navy continued to build relationships with Pacific partners by conducting helicopter exercises with the Japanese in the Bay of Bengal.

HMAS Darwin, under command of Commander Phillip Henry, was recently joined by the Japanese destroyer Matsuyuki.

Both ships were sailing to the Indian Navy International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, India.

Darwin and Matsuyuki are both equipped with SH70 Seahawk helicopters, so took the rare opportunity to practice landing on the flight deck of the other ship.

Lieutenant Jake Wadsworth piloted Darwin’s helicopter ‘Battlecat’ for the exercise.

"While there were some small differences in the Japanese way of landing a helicopter on deck compared with the Australian Navy, my training kicked in and the professionalism of the Japanese sailors ensured the landing was conducted safely," Leut Wadsworth said.

"It was my first time landing on a foreign ship - an awesome experience!"

Both landings were conducted safely with the crew of each helicopter given a little time to exchange ships’ plaques and take a look around before returning to their home platform.

HMAS Darwin is currently transiting via South East Asia to the Middle East region to undertake duties as part of Operation Manitou.

She will be the 62nd rotation of a RAN unit to the region since 1990 and Darwin’s seventh deployment to the region.