Second phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar to commence on October 12

The Indian Navy is set to participate in the second phase of the Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar along with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN) from Oct 12-15.

The exercise will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Navy's participation in the exercise will include INS Ranvijay, INS Satpura, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a Submarine.

The US Navy will be represented by the Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson along with two destroyers, USS Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale.

The JMSDF will be represented by JS Kaga and JS Murasame. Whilst, the Royal Australian Navy will be represented by HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Sirius.

This phase of the exercise would build upon the synergy, coordination and inter-operability developed during the first phase of the exercise and would focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolutions and weapon firings.

The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992, has seen increasing scope and complexity over the years.

The 25th edition of MALABAR, being conducted in two phases, while observing all protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, is reflective of the commitment of the participating countries to support a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific as well as a rules-based international order.

The first phase of the exercise was conducted in the Philippine Sea in August.

( With inputs from ANI )

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