Malabar (naval exercise)
Exercise Malabar is a naval exercise involving India, the United States and Japan as permanent partners. Australia re-joined the exercise in 2020. The annual Malabar exercises includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, diving salvage operations, amphibious operations, counter-piracy operations, cross–deck helicopter landings and anti–air warfare operations. Over the years, the exercise has been conducted in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Japan, the Persian Gulf, in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It is conducted by the Asian and the North American Commands.
The exercise started in 1992 along the Malabar Coast as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States. It was expanded in 2007 with the participation of Japan, Singapore and Australia. Japan became a permanent partner in 2015. Since 2020, Australia participated in the exercise again, marking the second time that the Quad will be jointly participating in a military exercise. The aim of the exercise includes increasing interoperability between the naval forces.
The duration of the exercise has ranged from 1 to 11 sea-days. The complexity and sophistication of the exercise has increased over the years. Exercises have on-shore and at-sea stages. The average participation by India increased from 8 ships to just over 9 from 2002 to 2014.
Exercises have included aircraft carriers, helicopter carriers,'' frigates, submarines, destroyers, guided-missile vessels, cruisers, amphibious ships and auxiliary ships such as tankers. Coast guard vessels have also taken part. Aircraft have included the P3C Orion, Poseidon P8I, Tupolev Tu-142, Kawasaki P-1, ShinMaywa US-2, F/A 18 Super Hornets, Jaguars, Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters. Special forces have also taken part.
1992–2002
The first Malabar exercise between India and the United States was held on 28/29 May 1992. The exercises were located along the Malabar Coast in Cochin, headquarters of the Indian Southern Naval Command, and Goa. It was of an elementary level, including four vessels, passing exercises and basic maneuvers. Two more exercises were conducted before 1998, when the Americans suspended exercises after India tested nuclear weapons.| Edition | Year | Participants | Exercise Area | Vessels | Exercises | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1992 |  INS|Gomati|F21|6INS|Ranjit|D53|6USS|Vandegrift|FFG-48|6USS|David R. Ray|DD-971|62002–2007The United States renewed military contact following the 2001 September 11 attacks when India joined President George W Bush's campaign against international terrorism. The 2003 exercises featured sub-surface exercises for the first time. In 2005 India and US signed the New Framework for the India - U.S. Defence Relationship. Malabar 2005 saw the inclusion of aircraft carriers from both navies for the first time. 2006 was the first time expeditionary exercises took place with a United States Expeditionary Strike Group leading the exercise. Malabar 2007 was the first time three aircraft carriers took part.In 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an initiative between Japan, United States, Australia and India impacted the Malabar exercise. In 2007, for the first time, navies other than Indian and US joined the exercise with the armada including Japan, Singapore and Australia. Also for the first time, the exercise was shifted from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. India's Left Front parties that have criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government on the India-US civilian nuclear deal had vehemently protested the exercise, seeing it as another sign of the growing closeness between the two countries. At one time, the Indian government was known to have considered postponing or canceling the exercise but the Indian Navy put its foot down, saying the logistics involved made any delay impossible. Protests against were seen in India when it dropped anchor off Chennai in July. China, which did not officially comment on the exercise, was known to be unhappy over the event as it was 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 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.
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