The 21st edition of the exercise, MALABAR-17 is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10 to 17 July 2017.
The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.
The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue, Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical procedures.
MALABAR-17 will be another milestone with participation of 16 ships, two submarines and more than 95 aircraft, towards strengthening mutual confidence and inter-operability as well as sharing of best practices between the Indian, Japanese and US Navies.
The exercise is a demonstration of the joint commitment of all three nations to address common maritime challenges across the spectrum of operations and will go a long way in enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, for the benefit of the global maritime community.
Malabar 2017 comes at a time when the Chinese navy is trying hard to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean region. The main aim of the exercise is to address the shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific. One primary area of focus this year will be on anti-submarine warfare.
Exercise Malabar
Exercise Malabar is a trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners.
Originally a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, Japan became a permanent partner in 2015. Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
The annual Malabar series began in 1992 and includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through Maritime Interdiction Operations Exercises.
The Excercise
The drill will include both ashore and at-sea training
Ashore training in Chennai
- Expert exchanges carrier strike group operations
- Maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations
- Surface and anti-submarine warfare
- Explosive ordnance disposal (eod) and visit
- Board, search and seizure (vbss) operations
At-sea: conducted in the Bay of Bengal
- Military-to-military coordination
- Capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment
- Air defense exercises
- Medical evacuation drills
- Anti-submarine warfare