Ships of the Indian and United States navies during the Indo US joint naval exercise Malabar.
Credit: PTI File photo
Hyderabad: Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024 among navies of QUAD nations- India, USA, Australia, and Japan will take place from October 8 to 18, off the Visakhapatnam coast.
The Malabar exercise will begin with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase. Exercise Malabar, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and Indian Navy, later was joined by Japan and Australia.
Malabar 2024 is expected to be the most comprehensive version of all editions so far, incorporating complex operational scenarios.
The exercise will feature participation of various Indian naval platforms, including guided missile destroyers, multi-purpose frigates, submarines, fixed wing MR, fighter aircraft and helicopters.
While Australia will deploy HMAS Stuart, an Anzac Class Frigate with its MH-60R helicopter and P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, the United States Navy will field the USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer with its integral helicopter and P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Japan will join the exercise with JS Ariake, a Murasame-class Destroyer. Special Forces from all four nations will also be participating in the Exercise.
Malabar 2024 will focus on a broad range of activities designed to enhance cooperation and operational capabilities, including discussions on special operations, surface, air, and anti-submarine warfare through a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE). Complex maritime operations such as anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and air defense exercises will be conducted at sea, with an emphasis on improving situational awareness in the maritime domain.
A Distinguished Visitors’ Day has been planned for October 9 during the Harbour Phase, during which the delegations from all four nations would be hosted by Eastern Naval Command's commander in chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar