The 27th edition of 11-day long Malabar naval exercise concluded off Sydney on Australia’s East Coast on Monday. It featured the navies of India, Australia, Japan and the US. Joint naval drill encompassed several complex and high intensity drills in air, surface and undersea domains.
Warships, submarines and aircraft from the Indian Navy, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the US Navy participated in the exercise. The five-day long naval exercise was conducted in two phases, which included a harbour phase from August 11 to 15 and a sea phase from August 16 to 21.
The Indian Navy was represented by indigenously built destroyer INS Kolkata, frigate INS Sahyadri and P8I maritime patrol aircraft.
The sea phase of Malabar excercise witnessed complex and high intensity exercises in air, surface and undersea domains, weapon firings and cross deck helicopter operations. The joint exercises at sea honed the war-fighting skills and enhanced interoperability between the four navies to undertake advanced maritime operations.
The seamless integration of air assets also showcased the exceptional coordination and interoperability between the Indian, Australian and US maritime patrol aircraft units. The exercise not only reaffirmed the ability of the four navies to operate together as an integrated force but also highlighted their shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability through collaborative training and mutual understanding.
Exercise Malabar vividly showcased the strong cooperation, shared values and the collective ability of the four participating nations to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific promoting peace and security for all.
Joint exercise at sea honed the war-fighting skills and enhanced interoperability between the four navies to undertake advanced maritime operations.
The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992. Japan joined the Naval Exercises in 2015 followed by Australia.