The 28th edition of the Malabar naval exercise, involving the Quad nations – India, the US, Japan, and Australia – is set to commence today in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
This high-profile exercise comes amidst growing concerns over China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and its expanding strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Malabar exercise, which will run from October 8 to 18, aims to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding among the participating navies while addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise will feature a range of complex maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and air defense exercises. Special forces from all four nations will also participate.
India's naval contingent will include a Delhi-class destroyer, a Shivalik-class frigate, a Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvette, and a submarine. In addition, MiG-29K fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters will be deployed.
The US Navy will be represented by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey, with its integral helicopter, and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. Australia will deploy the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Stuart, with its MH-60R helicopter, and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. Japan will participate with the Murasame-class destroyer JS Ariake.
The exercise will include both harbor and sea phases. The harbor phase will focus on enhancing cooperation and operational capabilities through discussions and subject matter expert exchanges on various aspects of naval warfare. The sea phase will involve complex maneuvers and operational scenarios designed to test and improve the interoperability of the participating forces.
This year's Malabar exercise takes place in the backdrop of the recent Quad leaders' summit in Washington, where the four countries reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The summit declaration emphasized the role of the Quad as a force for good in the region, where no single country dominates.
The Malabar exercise, which began as a bilateral endeavor between India and the US in 1992, has evolved into a key platform for multilateral maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The inclusion of Japan and Australia as permanent participants reflects the growing strategic convergence among the Quad nations in response to the evolving regional security environment.
The Malabar exercise is not the only instance of increased military cooperation among the Quad nations. In August-September, India hosted the inaugural “Tarang Shakti” air combat exercise, which saw participation from all Quad countries and several other nations.
These exercises underscore the growing commitment of the Quad nations to strengthen their military ties and enhance their collective ability to address shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
