Enhancement of Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific on the agenda as Naval Exercise Malabar-15 kicks off

In its 19th edition, the ongoing India-US Malabar Naval Exercise — featuring navies of India, the US and Japan — is aimed at ‘enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region’. The key areas of this year’s exercise include anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue tactical procedures. [caption id=“attachment_223708” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] According to a joint press statement issued by the three navies, Malabar-15 — that is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 14 to 19 October — is expected to be a ‘significant step’ in expanding ‘inter-operability’ between the three navies and ‘strengthening mutual confidence’. “The exercise will also go a long way in enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, for the benefit of the global maritime community," it added. A release from the Ministry of Defence notes that the Indian Navy is being represented by the frigate INS Shivalik, destroyer INS Ranvijay, frigate INS Betwa and the fleet support ship INS Shakti. The Sindhugosh class submarine INS Sindhudhvaj, long range maritime patrol aircraft P8I and integral rotary wing helicopters will also be participating in the exercise. Representing the US Navy, are vessels from Yokosuka, Japan-based Carrier Task Force 70 of the USN Seventh Fleet, including the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Normandy and Freedom class littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth. Also present are the Los Angeles class nuclear powered submarine USS City of Corpus Christi, F18 jets from the US Carrier Air Wing and P8A long range maritime patrol aircraft. The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force’s sole representative is the missile destroyer JS Fuyuzuki, along with an SH 60K integral helicopter. With inputs from PTI