Biggest naval exercise “Malabar” begins
New Delhi, Sept. 4 (ANI): The biggest joint naval exercise “Malabar”, involving India, the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore will begin in the Bay of Bengal today.
The exercise in which one can see flotilla 26 warships, including aircraft carriers, missile frigates and destroyer, will end on September 9.
The war games in the international waters between Vishakhapatnam and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will involve two aircraft carriers from the US and one from India, hundreds of military aircraft, destroyers, frigates and submarines.
Besides, the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, India is fielding maritime Jaguar and Sea Harrier fighters, Tu-142 surveillance planes, Delhi and Kashin Class destroyers, Godavari and Brahmaputra Class guided missile frigates and a German origin submarine will also take part in the exercise.
The two aircraft carriers from the US – USS Nimitz and USS Kitty Hawk – have also reached the exercise point located 180 nautical miles from Vishakhapatnam.
The exercise will conclude with a mock battle, involving capsules of anti-piracy, anti-marine terrorism, air defence, and surveillance and interception elements.
The exercises have also evoked interest among China, Russia and Central Asian countries with Beijing even issuing a demarche to India, U.S. Australia and Japan when they met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Manila earlier this year.
A demarche is a formal diplomatic communication from a country seeking information from another.
The Malabar exercise has grown in scale and complexity over the years.
In 2006, the 14-day long joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea had seen participation of US ships like amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, Guided Missile Destroyers USS Benfold and USS Howard, Guided Missile Cruiser USS Bunker Hill and US Coast Guard Ship Midgett.
US’ nuclear powered submarine SSN Providence, also took part in the 2006 exercise. (ANI)
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