INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) – Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States have just completed the first phase of their Malabar 2020 Exercise in the Bay of Bengal, that began on November 3.
The complex drills that will include surface, anti-submarine and antiair warfare operations, cross deck flying and weapon firing exercises.
Hosted by the Indian Navy (IN), this year marks the 24th iteration of Exercise Malabar, which began in 1992 and features the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as they rejoined the exercise. The annual exercise advances the planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics between participating nations.
The second phase of the mega exercise is scheduled to be held from November 17 to 20 in the Arabian Sea.
The Indian Navy deployed a number of its key platforms including destroyer INS Ranvijay, frigate INS Shivalik, off-shore patrol vessel INS Sukanya, fleet support ship INS Shakti and submarine INS Sindhuraj.
The advanced jet trainer Hawk, long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, and several helicopters also participated from the Indian side in the exercise, officials said.
The U.S. participant was the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56).
“India, Japan, and Australia form the core of our strategic partners across the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Steven DeMoss, commodore, Destroyer Squadron Fifteen.
“It is fitting to see our Navies operate in a high end, tactically relevant exercise like Malabar. It is another opportunity to further strengthen our combined capabilities and enhance our partnerships.”
The Indian Navy participation in phase one was led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet. The annual exercise was conducted off the coast of Guam in the Philippines Sea in 2018, off the coast of Japan in 2019 This year’s exercise at-sea includes a variety of high-end tactical training, including specific interactions that are designed to enhance interoperability between the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. maritime forces.
“Malabar provides an opportunity for navies, sharing a common vision of a more open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, to operate and train alongside one another,” said Cmdr. Ryan T. Easterday, commanding officer, USS John S. McCain.
Australian, Indian, Japanese and American maritime forces routinely operate together in the Indo-Pacific, fostering a cooperative approach toward regional security and stability.
“We, the JMSDF, have been striving to strengthen partnership among the navies of friendly nations through maritime exercises such as Malabar to achieve a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” said Cmdr. ISHIDERA Takahiko, commanding officer, JS Onami.
“This year, it is our great pleasure that we have the opportunity to conduct the exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, in addition to the United States Navy and the Indian Navy.
Despite the global COVID-19 spread, I believe Malabar 2020 will make our ties with these navies much stronger.”
Commanding Officer of HMAS Ballarat, Commander Antony Pisani, RAN said the multinational maritime exercise was an opportunity to build interoperability with key regional partners, India, Japan and thez United States.
“This is an opportunity for Ballarat to participate in a high-end maritime exercise with the four participating navies, increasing mutual understanding and enhancing our combined air and maritime domain awareness,” Commander Pisani said.
“HMAS Ballarat is the first Royal Australian Navy ship to participate in Exercise Malabar since 2007 and we are looking forward to the opportunity to exercise with our partners and contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the region.”
Earlier this year, the Indian Navy had conducted exercises with Russia and the ‘Quad’ countries.
The Indian Navy had carried out a three-day bilateral maritime exercise with Japan in the north Arabian Sea from September 26, 2020 to September 28. It was the fourth edition of the India-Japan Maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX, which is conducted biennially. The Australian Navy and the Indian Navy carried out a passage exercise in the East Indian Ocean Region on September 23 and 24.
The exercise involved the participation of HMAS Hobart from the Australian side and Indian naval ships Sahyadri and Karmuk. In addition, an Indian maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters from both sides carried out coordinated exercises.
A bilateral exercise took place between the Indian and Russian navies in the Bay of Bengal on September 4 and 5.
Indian Navy units also undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with units of the US Nimitz Carrier Strike Group as they transited through the Indian Ocean region on July 20.