INS Sahyadri in Guam for Key Quad Naval Drills

Exercise Malabar 2025, a premier multilateral naval drill, is currently underway at Guam in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Representing India, the INS Sahyadri—a stealth guided missile frigate—has joined this high-profile maritime engagement. The exercise, which includes both harbour and sea phases, underlines India’s strategic role in safeguarding Indo-Pacific security alongside key partner nations.

India’s Participation: INS Sahyadri in Focus

INS Sahyadri is an indigenously designed and constructed guided missile stealth frigate.

• Built under the Project 17 (Shivalik-class) by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, it exemplifies the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) vision in defence manufacturing.
• The ship has participated in multiple bilateral and multilateral operations, reaffirming India’s growing naval reach.
• Participation in Malabar 2025 demonstrates India’s commitment to strengthening military cooperation, improving interoperability, and promoting rules-based maritime order.

What is Exercise Malabar?

Started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the United States, Malabar has evolved into a quadrilateral naval drill, now involving,

• India
• United States
• Japan
• Australia

It serves as a key security cooperation platform among Quad nations, focusing on joint operations, maritime domain awareness, and naval interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Structure of Malabar 2025

Harbour Phase

Held at the port in Guam, this phase involves,

• Operational planning meetings
• Alignment of communication protocols
• Familiarisation visits among participating navies
• Sports fixtures and informal cultural exchanges

This phase helps establish coordination and strategic alignment before live operations.

Sea Phase

Once at sea, participating navies conduct,

• Joint fleet manoeuvres
• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills
• Gunnery exercises
• Advanced flying operations involving naval aircraft and helicopters

These drills test readiness, sharpen response capabilities, and foster real-time tactical coordination between navies.

Why Guam Matters

Guam, a U.S. island territory in the Western Pacific, holds strategic importance as a forward-deployed base. Its selection as the host for Malabar 2025 reinforces,

• The Indo-Pacific security architecture
• The importance of forward presence and early warning systems
• Support for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, resisting coercive actions or threats to sovereignty

India’s naval presence here reflects its increasing blue-water capabilities and active stake in global maritime affairs.

Static Facts & Takeaways

• Exercise Name: Malabar 2025
• Location: Guam, Northern Pacific
• Indian Ship Participating: INS Sahyadri
• Ship Class: Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate
• Built Under: Project 17, by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
• Participating Nations: India, U.S., Japan, Australia (Quad members)