The Staff of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) announced Tuesday that the drill will be participated in by seven vessels, including the aegis warship Zyokai from MSDF and the John S. McCain from the U.S.

Such drill involving aegis vessels of Japan and the U.S. took place in last December as part of joint combined exercises but it is the first time for the MSDF and the U.S. navy to conduct a separate training, said the Japanese Jiji Press.