2. Introduction
Exercise Malabar is a bilateral naval exercise involving the United States and India.
Participation has been expanded in some years to include Japan, Australia and/or
Singapore.
The annual Malabar series began in 1992, and includes diverse activities, ranging from
fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers, through Maritime Interdiction Operations
Exercises.
MALABAR is a regular bilateral naval field training exercise which has matured over the
years.
The exercise has witnessed broadening of scope and complexity through the years of its
existence and 'Malabar 2013' is the latest in this continuing series.
The exercise is conducted to develop advanced multinational maritime relationships and
address security issues.
The exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training.
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4. Details
The 'At-Sea' phase of exercise will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal.
They are designed to develop military-to-military coordination and sharpen the capability to
plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment between the
participating nations.
Events planned during the 'At-Sea' phase include professional exchanges and
embarkations; communications exercises; Surface Action Group operations; leapfrogs;
helicopter cross-deck evolutions; gunnery exercises; Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS)
and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
Participation from the US Navy includes the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS
McCampbell (DDG 85) and P3C.
IN participations include indigenously built Frigate Shivalik, Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay
and TU-142M Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
The United States and India share common values and seafaring traditions.
Both the navies are natural partners, and look forward to continuing the ways to strengthen
the mutual bonds and professional relationships between both the navies through the
conduct of MALABAR series of exercises.
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7. Previous Years Exercise
In 2005, Malabar featured the participation of the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
and INS Viraat.
In 2006, a US expeditionary strike group comprising amphibious ships, cruisers, destroyers,
and submarines participated in the exercise for the first time.
In 2007, Malabar-2007 was the ninth Malabar exercise and was the first one to be held
outside the Indian Ocean, off the Japanese Island of Okinawa.
In 2008, The purpose of Malabar 2008 was to promote increase inter-operability between
the United States and India, with a special emphasis on maritime interdiction, including
counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operation.
In 2009, The Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy expanded their
maritime partnerships during exercise MALABAR 2009, held off the coast of Japan between
29 April – 3 May 2009.
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9. Contd…
In 2010, Ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet arrived in Goa,
India, 23 April to begin Exercise Malabar 2010 hosted by the Indian Navy.
In 2011, The Malabar Series of Exercises, from 2 April – 10 April 2011 will be held off the
Okinawa coast.
In 2012, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 of the US Navy, comprising USS Carl Vinson,
embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS
Bunker Hill and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey participated in
the 10 day exercise.
In 2013, Indian Navy-US Navy bilateral exercise, MALABAR 2013 commenced on 5
November 2013 and continued until 11 November 2013 in the Bay of Bengal.
In 2014, Exercise MALABAR 2014 commenced on 24 July 2014 at Sasebo Naval Base,
Japan. This edition of MALABAR was a trilateral one involving the navies of India, Japan
and the United States.
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12. Vessels in Exercise
Indian Navy: Four Vessels
• INS Mumbai (D62): Guided-Missile Destroyer
• INS Ranvir (D54): Guided-Missile Destroyer
• INS Khanjar (P47): Guided-Missile Corvette
• INS Jyoti (A58): Replenishment Tanker
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force: Two Vessels
• JDS Kurama (DDH 144): Guided-Missile Destroyer
• JDS Asayuki (DD 132): Guided-Missile Frigate
United States Navy: Four Vessels
• USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62): Guided-Missile Destroyer
• USS Chafee (DDG 90): Guided-Missile Destroyer
• USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19): Amphibious Command Ship
• USS Seawolf (SSN 21): Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine
