Visakhapatnam Hosts Malabar 2024 Naval Drill

MALABAR exercise will kick off from 8th October in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It will be  hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the sea phase. The exercise will be conducted from 8th October to 18th October.

Focus and Objective

Malabar 2024 is designed to enhance cooperation and operational capabilities among participating navies. 

The key areas of focus include

• Special operations
• Surface warfare
• Air warfare
• Anti-submarine warfare

These activities will be carried out through a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE).

The 2024 exercise will feature:

• Anti-submarine warfare drills
• Surface warfare operations
• Air defense exercises

The goal is to enhance situational awareness in the maritime domain through coordinated and integrated maritime operations.

Presence

• On October 9, during the Harbour Phase of the exercise, a Distinguished Visitors’ Day is planned.
• Hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
• Delegations from Australia, Japan, the USA, and India will attend this event.

Deployments

Australia

• Deploying HMAS Stuart, an Anzac Class Frigate.
• Equipped with an MH-60R helicopter.
• Supported by a P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

United States

• Deploying USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer.
• Equipped with an integral helicopter.
• Supported by a P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Japan

• Participating with JS Ariake, a Murasame-Class Destroyer.

Special Forces

• Special Forces from Australia, Japan, the United States, and India will be part of the exercise, emphasizing high-level coordination in special operations.

What is Malabar Exercise?

Starting Year : It was started in 1992.

Participating Countries

• In 1992 started as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US navy.
• It was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015.
• In 2020, the Australian Navy joined the Malabar Exercise, making it a quadrilateral naval exercise.

Details 

• The first Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal took place in 2007.
• The aim of the Malabar Exercise of India, the US, Japan and Australia is to coordinate for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• It takes place annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively.
• This exercise includes a diverse range of activities such as fighter combat operations and maritime interdiction operations.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	MALABAR exercise will kick off from 8th October in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It will be  hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.
Host	India
Exercise Phases	Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam; Sea Phase to follow
Objective	Enhance cooperation and operational capabilities among navies
Key Focus Areas	Special operations, surface warfare, air warfare, anti-submarine warfare
Activities	Anti-submarine warfare drills, surface warfare operations, air defense exercises
Special Features	Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) to share expertise; Distinguished Visitors’ Day on October 9 hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar
Country-Specific Deployments	Australia: HMAS Stuart (Anzac Class Frigate) with MH-60R helicopter, P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft; USA: USS Dewey (Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer), P8 MPA Japan: JS Ariake (Murasame-Class Destroyer)
About Malabar Exercise	1992 as India-US bilateral; Expanded: Japan joined in 2015, Australia in 2020
Goal	To ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific