India, US, Japan begin Malabar Exercise 2017

India, Japan and the United States on 10 July 2017 began the joint naval exercise Malabar 2017.

Warships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the US will be participating in the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal till 17 July 2017. The exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training.

Highlights of the Malabar 2017

• The ashore training in Chennai will include professional exchanges on carrier strike group operations, maritime patrol operations, surface warfare, medical operations, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), helicopter operations, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

• The at-sea training will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal and will be focussed on advancing military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.

• Events planned during the at-sea portions include liaison officer professional exchanges; a photo exercise; submarine familiarization; high-value unit defence and air defence exercises.

• It will also include medical evacuation drills; surface warfare exercises; search and rescue exercises; helicopter cross-deck evolutions; gunnery exercises; VBSS exercises and anti-submarine warfare.

• Participants from the US Navy include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68); the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86); a P-8A Poseidon aircraft; and a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine.

• The Japan Navy will deploy Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ships JS Izumo (DDH 183) and JS Sazanami (DD113) in the exercise.

• The Indian fleet is expected to have six to seven frontline warships including India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, two Shivalik class frigates, two destroyers and tanker INS Jyoti.

The joint naval exercise is taking place at such a crucial time when there are reports of the presence of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean in the name of anti-piracy operations.