Multilateral maritime exercise Malabar Phase 2 progress in Bay of Bengal | See Pics

The Indian Navy is participating in the second phase of the Malabar exercise along with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN).

The US Navy will be represented by nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson along with two destroyers, USS Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale. The JMSDF will deploy helicopter carrier JS Kaga and Murasame-class destroyers JS Murasame while the Royal Australian Navy will be represented by HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Sirius.

The Indian Navy deployed its frontline warships INS Ranvijay and INS Satpura, a submarine and a fleet of P8I long range maritime patrol aircraft for the exercise.

The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992. In 2015, JMSDF joined Malabar as a permanent member. The 2020 edition witnessed the participation of the Royal Australian Navy.

The exercise 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, according to Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal.