India to Host Four-Nation Malabar Naval Exercise Oct 8-18

India is set to host the four-nation Malabar naval exercise starting Tuesday, in response to the evolving security landscape in the region. The navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan will engage in a series of complex naval drills during the ‘sea phase’ of this major exercise.

According to the Indian Navy, “Exercise Malabar 2024” will run from October 8 to 18, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam before transitioning to the sea phase. Initially launched in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the US and Indian navies, the Malabar exercise has grown into a significant multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing common maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

The exercise will showcase a variety of Indian naval assets, including guided missile destroyers, multi-purpose frigates, submarines, fighter jets, and helicopters. The Navy highlighted that the focus will be on a wide range of activities designed to boost cooperation and operational capabilities. This includes discussions on special operations, surface warfare, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare through Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE).