Ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States began naval exercise Malabar 2020 in the Bay of Bengal on November 3.
Hosted by the Indian Navy (IN), this year marks the 24th iteration of exercise Malabar, which began in 1992 and will feature the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as they rejoin the exercise. The annual exercise advances the planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics between participating nations.
The US participant is the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), while Australia has deployed frigate HMAS Ballarat.
Indian Navy ships include submarine Sindhuraj, tanker Shakti, destroyer Ranvijay, patrol vessel Sukanya, and frigate Shivalik. Japan has deployed the destroyer JS Ōnami for the maneuver.
“India, Japan, and Australia form the core of our strategic partners across the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Steven DeMoss, commodore, Destroyer Squadron Fifteen. “It is fitting to see our navies operate in a high end, tactically relevant exercise like Malabar. It is another opportunity to further strengthen our combined capabilities and enhance our partnerships.”
This year’s exercise at-sea includes a variety of high-end tactical training, including specific interactions that are designed to enhance interoperability between the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and US maritime forces.
“Malabar provides an opportunity for like-minded navies, sharing a common vision of a more stable, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, to operate and train alongside one another,” said Cmdr. Ryan T. Easterday, commanding officer, USS John S. McCain. “A collaborative approach toward regional security and stability is important now more than ever, to deter all who challenge a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“We, the JMSDF, have been striving to strengthen partnership among the navies of friendly nations through maritime exercises such as Malabar to achieve a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” said Cmdr. ISHIDERA Takahiko, commanding officer, JS Onami. “This year, it is our great pleasure that we have the opportunity to conduct the exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, in addition to the United States Navy and the Indian Navy. Despite the global COVID-19 spread, I believe Malabar 2020 will make our ties with these navies much stronger.”
Commanding Officer of HMAS Ballarat, Commander Antony Pisani, RAN said the multinational maritime exercise was an opportunity to build interoperability with key regional partners, India, Japan and the United States.
“HMAS Ballarat is the first Royal Australian Navy ship to participate in Exercise Malabar since 2007 and we are looking forward to the opportunity to exercise with our partners and contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the region,” Commander Pisani said.
