Exercise Malabar

Ships of the United States, India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal.

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.^[1]

History and Current scenario

Three exercises were conducted prior to 1998, when the Americans suspended exercises after India tested nuclear weapons.^[2] However, Washington renewed military contacts following the September 11 attacks when India joined President George W Bush's campaign against international terrorism.

In 2002, the exercises comprised basic passing maneuvers among naval vessels, anti-submarine exercises and replenishment-at-sea drills.

In 2003, US warships, USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USS Chosin (CG-65); US submarine USS Pasadena (SSN-752); Indian guided missile frigates, INS Brahmaputra and INS Ganga; Indian submarine INS Shalki and several aircraft conducted anti-submarine warfare tactics.^[3]

In 2004, Malabar participants included advanced assets like the USS Alexandria (SSN-757), a Los Angeles-class submarine, and US Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. This enabled both navies to engage in submarine familiarization exercises, a key capability for anti-submarine warfare collaboration.

In 2005, Malabar featured the participation of the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and INS Viraat. During a month of operations, US and Indian forces collaborated on a wide variety of tasks ranging from a joint diving salvage operation to a 24-hour 'war at sea' simulation that saw the two forces engage in mock combat.^[4][5][6]

In 2006, the USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) comprising thirteen ships including amphibious ships, cruisers, destroyers, and the US submarine USS Providence (SSN-719) as well as Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in the exercise. It was the first time a U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) led the exercise. The addition of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WHEC 726) and an Indian Coast Guard Patrol Ship allowed for the exchange of Coast Guard practices between nations in maritime law enforcement, anti-piracy operations, pollution control, search and rescue, and VBSS support. During the second phase, BOXESG pulled into several Indian ports, including Mumbai and Goa. The stop offered BOXESG a chance to experience Indian culture, re-supply and support a Habitat for Humanity project. The visit also gave leadership a chance to discuss future Malabar exercises and interoperability between the three nation's armed forces.

2007

A pair of Indian Air Force Jaguars flying in formation besides a pair of Indian Navy Sea Harriers and a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, flying over the Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat during Exercise Malabar 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.^[7][8][9] Besides interception and dissimilar air combat exercises, featured surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction and Visit, board, search, and seizure operations to counter piracy and other non-state acts at sea. On 4 September 2007, the naval exercise included 25 vessels from India, the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal. This was the first time a joint exercise of this scale involving 25 vessels was conducted, an event that India says is a pointer to the country's growing importance on the world stage. The drill was previously a bilateral India-US engagement and was expanded for the first time.

India's Left parties that have criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government on the India-US civilian nuclear deal, had vehemently protested the joint drill, seeing it as yet another sign of the growing closeness between the two countries. At one time, the Indian government was known to have considered postponing or even canceling the drill but the Indian Navy put its foot down, saying the logistics involved made any delay impossible.

China, which has not officially commented on the drill initially, was known to be unhappy over the event as it is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal for the first time. China has been cultivating naval cooperation with Bangladesh and Myanmar to gain access to the Bay of Bengal and has also been strengthening military cooperation with Sri Lanka. In June, China had issued a 'demarche' to India, United States, Japan and Australia seeking details about their four-nation meeting, termed a Quadrilateral Initiative. India and Australia had quickly assured Beijing that security and defence issues did not form part of the meeting's agenda.

The US Navy had the largest representation during Malabar-2007 with 13 warships, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that was protested^[10] when it dropped anchor off Chennai in July. The other vessels included the conventionally powered carrier USS Kitty Hawk, the nuclear submarine USS Chicago (SSN-721), two guided missile cruisers, and six guided missile destroyers. Eight warships of India, including the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, represented the Indian Navy. The other warships were the destroyers INS Mysore, INS Rana and INS Ranjit, fleet tanker INS Jyoti (A58) and a corvette INS Kuthar. Viraat's Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters, and the Indian Air Force's Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft were also seen in action. Australia was represented by a frigate and a tanker; Japan by two destroyers; and Singapore by a frigate.^[7][8][9]

2008

From 19 October 2008, Exercise MALABAR 08, the twelfth of the series, was conducted in the Arabian Sea. 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.^[11] Rear Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet (FOCWF), noted:

"This greatly enhances our two navies’ interoperability, which is very important to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, as well as issues of maritime security and piracy."^[12]

The US Navy was represented by the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)'s Carrier Strike Group Seven. In addition, one submarine, USS Springfield (SSN-761), and one P3C Orion aircraft also participated in the exercise.^[1][13] Joining Carrier Group Seven were the fast combat support ship Bridge and the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine Springfield and a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft.^[11][12] Indian naval units included guided-missile destroyers Mumbai and Rana; the guided-missile frigates Talwar, Godavari, Brahmaputra, and Betwa; the replenishment tanker Aditya; and a Shishumar-class diesel-electric submarine.^[11][1]

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.

The features of Exercise Malabar 2009 were: • Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBBS) techniques • Surface warfare maneuvers • Anti-submarine warfare • Gunnery training • Air defense

The ships involved from India were INS Mumbai (D62), INS Khanjar (P47), INS Ranvir (D54) and INS Jyoti (A58). The ships involved from Japan were JDS Kurama (DDH144) and JDS Asayuki (DD132). The ships involved from the US were USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Chafee (DDG 90) and the USS Seawolf (SSN 21). ^[14][15]

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.

"The U.S. Navy and Indian Navy are natural partners and friends who share a mutual desire to ensure security and stability in this region," said Rear Adm. Kevin M. Donegan, Commander, Battle Force Seventh Fleet. "A high-end exercise like Malabar strengthens our growing naval relationship and the interoperability between our two professional maritime forces."

Training conducted at-sea will include surface and antisubmarine warfare, coordinated gunnery exercises, air defense, and visit, board, search, and seizure drills. Sailors of both services will also take part in professional exchanges and discussions while at-sea and on shore. U.S. Navy personnel will also participate in a community service project during the port visit to Goa.

U.S. forces participating in Malabar will include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Chafee (DDG 90), Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Curts (FFG 38), Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760), P-3 Orion aircraft, SH-60 helicopters and a Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) special forces detachment. ^[16]

2011

U.S. Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan with the Indian Navy

The Malabar Series of Exercises, from 2 April – 10 April 2011 will be held off the Okinawa coast.^[17] India had stopped involving more countries in the Indo-U.S. exercises after China, in 2007, sent demarches to all the participants of a five-nation naval exercise held in the Bay of Bengal. With the Japanese participation in 2009 raising no political storm, India was once again agreeable to the idea of allowing the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force to participate.^[17]

Carrier Strike Group Seven participated in Malabar 2011.^[18] U.S. naval units initially included the guided-missile destroyers Sterett and Stethem; the guided-missile frigate Reuben James; and nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN-763). Indian naval units included the guided-missile destroyers Delhi, Ranvijay, and INS Ranvir (D54); the corvette INS Kirch (P62); and the replenishment tanker Jyoti.^[18][19][20]

The at-sea portions were conducted in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Luzon Strait, and east of Okinawa. The exercise's location coincided with the Indian Navy's western Pacific deployment.^[18] Malabar 2011 was designed to advance U.S.-Indian coordination and operational capacity. Exercise events included liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks; communications exercises; surface action group exercise operations; formation maneuvering; helicopter cross deck evolutions; underway replenishments; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; gunnery exercises; visit, board, search and seizure; maritime strike; air defense; screen exercise and anti-submarine warfare.^[19] U.S. and Indian navy ships ended the exercise on 9 April 2011.

2012

INS Shakti replenishing USS Carl Vinson during Exercise Malabar 2012.

Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 of the US Navy, comprising ^[21]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. Military Sealift Command's fast combat support ship USNS Bridge also provided support for the exercise.^[22]

The frigate INS Satpura, destroyers INS Ranvir and INS Ranvijay, and corvette INS Kulish represented the Indian Navy, along with Indian Navy replenishment oiler INS Shakti (A57).^[21][23]

The exercise took place in approximately 450 nautical miles of sea and air space, and offered the opportunity for the U.S. and Indian naval services to conduct communications exercises, surface action group (SAG) operations, helicopter cross-deck evolutions, and gunnery exercises. The participants split into two SAGs, with Bunker Hill leading one and Satpura leading the other. Carl Vinson and CVW-17 provided air support for the exercise.^[21]

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. 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 a P-3 Orion aircraft. Indian Navy participation includes the indigenously built Frigate INS Shivalik (F47), the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay (D55) and Tupolev Tu-142 Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft. ^[24]

2014

Ships of the Indian, Japanese and the U.S. Navies sail together during Exercise Malabar 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. The exercise will involve Carrier strike group operations, Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance operations, anti piracy operations and Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, Search and rescue exercises, helicopter cross-deck landings, Underway replenishment, gunnery and anti-submarine warfare exercises, and Liaison officer exchange and embarkation. ^[25]

The Indian Navy is represented by INS Ranvijay (guided missile destroyer), INS Shivalik (stealth frigate) and INS Shakti (fleet tanker). Two destroyers along with a P3C Orion and a ShinMaywa US-2 are participating from the Japanese Navy. From the U.S. Navy one submarine (SSN), two destroyers, one tanker along with one Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft are participating. One U.S. Navy Carrier Strike group (CSG) based on the Nimitz class carrier USS George Washington is likely to join for the sea phase of the exercise.^[25][26]

2015

On 26 January 2015, the U.S.President and Indian Prime Minister agreed, in a joint statement, to upgrade exercise Malabar.^[27]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malabar (naval exercise).

• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
• India–United States relations
• China Containment Policy

References