India, Japan, US, Australia To Hold Malabar Naval Exercise Off Sydney

Japan, India, the US, and Australia is going to carry out the Malabar Navy Drill off the Sydney coast from 11 to 21 August, per the ministry of defense.

The Indian Navy’s indigenous and frontline war vessels INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata along with vessels and aircraft from the US Navy (popular as the USN), Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (abbreviated the JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (known as RAN) will be taking part in the exercise.

The Malabar series of exclusive maritime exercise had commenced back in 1992 as an exclusive bilateral exercise between Indian and the US Navy and has grown in its stature over the years to include four navies in the Indo-Pacific zone. The 2020 edition experienced maiden participation of the RAN. 2023 marks the 27th edition of MALABAR that is being hosted by the RAN.

Per the ministry, Malabar 2023 is reportedly scheduled to be conducted across two phases. The Harbour Phase now involves wide-ranging activities like cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, professional exchanges, and multiple interactions for the planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.

The sea phase is going to include several complex and high-intensity exercises across three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine exercises that encompass live weapon firing drills as well. The exercise gives an opportunity to the Indian Navy to demonstrate and enhance interoperability and gain from the leading practices in maritime security operations from partner nations.

INS Sahyadri, on the other hand, is the third vessel of the indigenously built and designed Project-17 class multirole stealth frigates. It is commanded by Rajan Kapoor (Captain). INS Kolkata is the first-ever vessel of the indigenously built Project-15A destroyers and is reportedly commanded by Sharad Sinsunwal (Captain), per the ministry.

Both the vessels have been constructed at Mazagon Dock Ltd in Mumbai and are fitted with a next-gen array of sensors and weapons to detect and neutralize threats in surface, underwater, and air domains, it added.

References: Livmint, Reuters

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Source: Maritime Shipping News