Navies of India, US, Japan, Australia conclude phase 1 of Malabar 2020 naval exercise

Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. Malabar 2020 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific where the U.S. Navy has patrolled for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

The first phase of the Malabar naval exercise has culminated in the Bay of Bengal with the participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The 24th multinational maritime naval exercise, which started on November 3, was restricted to sea phase and conducted in “zero contact” format considering COVID19 pandemic.

The first phase of the exercise witnessed complex and advanced naval exercises including surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare drills, cross deck flying, and weapon firing exercises. It concluded on Friday.

The 24th edition of the Malabar naval exercise is scheduled in two phases this month. It will display “high-levels of synergy and coordination” based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

It is for first time in more than a decade that the exercise will see the participation of all four Quad countries. Australia is taking part in the exercise after 2007.

The first phase of Malabar 20 witnessed the participation of Indian Navy units with United States Ship (USS) John S McCain (guided-missile destroyer), Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Ballarat (long range frigates) with integral MH-60 helicopter and Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) Onami (destroyer) with integral SH-60 helicopter.

The second phase of the Malabar practice started on Tuesday in the Northern Arabian Sea with the support of Indian Navy plane carrying warship INS Vikramaditya, the American plane carrying warship USS Nimitz alongside other Indian, US, Australian and Japanese warships completing 'Malabar-2020' wargames.

The Australian Navy is participating with its warship HMAS Ballarat and Japan with destroyer JS Murasame. The second period of the Malabar exercise will be led in the Northern Arabian Sea till November 20.

"Taking forward the cooperative energy accomplished in the as of late closed Phase 1 of Exercise Malabar 2020, which was led in the Bay of Bengal November from 03 to 06, this stage will include composed activities of expanding intricacy between the naval forces of Australia, India, Japan and the United States," an official delivery on Monday.

"Stage 2 of Exercise Malabar 2020 will observer joint activities, revolved around the Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group of the Indian Navy and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy. The two transporters, alongside different boats, submarine and airplane of the taking an interest naval forces, would be occupied with focused energy maritime tasks more than four days," the delivery added.

The delivery expressed that these activities incorporate cross-deck flying tasks and progressed air guard practices by MiG 29K warriors of VikramadityaandF-18 contenders and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz.

What's more, cutting-edge surface and hostile to submarine fighting activities, seamanship advancements and weapon firings will likewise be attempted to additional improve interoperability and cooperative energy between the four agreeable naval forces.

Notwithstanding Vikramaditya and its warrior and helicopter air-wings, indigenous destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, secrecy frigate Talwar, Fleet Support Ship Deepak and indispensable helicopters will likewise partake in the activity, driven by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. Indigenously fabricated submarineKhanderiand P8I oceanic observation airplane of the Indian Navy will likewise grandstand their capacities during the activity.

US Navy's Strike Carrier Nimitz will be joined by cruiser Princeton and destroyer Sterett notwithstanding P8A sea observation airplane. The Royal Australian Navy will be spoken to by frigate Ballarat alongside its vital helicopter. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will likewise partake in the activity.

"The Malabar arrangement of activities, which started as a yearly two-sided maritime exercise among India and the US in 1992, has seen expanding degree and multifaceted nature throughout the long term. The 24th version of Malabar, which is by and large as of now embraced, features improved union of perspectives among the four dynamic vote based systems on sea issues, and grandstands their pledge to an open, comprehensive Indo-Pacific and a guidelines based worldwide request," the delivery said.

Nov. 17, 2020. Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elliot Schaudt/Released)