The 26th edition of the Malabar exercise held at Yokosuka, Japan ended on Tuesday. The navies of India, America, Japan, and Australia participated in this exercise which began on 9 November. These four countries are also part of the Quad. The exercise was conducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Indian Navy’s INS Shivalik-Kamorta commissioned
INS Shivalik and Kamorta participated in this exercise from the Indian Navy. Both these are indigenous warships. Shivalik is a multi-role stealth frigate, which can also participate in anti-submarine warfare. At the same time, Kamorto is a completely anti-submarine warfare ship. The purpose of the Malabar exercise this year is an anti-submarine warfare drill. They were led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Commanding Officer, Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy.
The Malabar exercise took place for the first time in 1992
Exercise Malabar was started in the year 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the US. Then in 2015, Japan and Australia also joined it in 2020, which further increased the popularity of this exercise. The four countries conducted the exercise amid global concerns arising out of China’s increasing military interference in the South and East China Seas.
India and the US will conduct military drills near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China amid Indo-China tensions. By the end of the year, three major military exercises are happening simultaneously in India. All these military exercises have started from 8th November. India is showing its military might in these military exercises which continue till 11th December.