TOKYO, Nov 12 : Australia has joined India, Japan, and the United States in Exercise Malabar, a flagship maritime operation that underscores the growing strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability among regional partners and bolster collective security in a rapidly evolving maritime environment.
“Exercise Malabar enables Australia and our partner nations to strengthen Indo-Pacific security by addressing shared challenges, coordinating collective capabilities, and bridging gaps in global engagement,” officials said.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN, said with regional security challenges evolving rapidly, partnerships and joint exercises are more important than ever.
“Through Exercise Malabar, we are strengthening Indo-Pacific security by tackling shared challenges, coordinating collective strength, and building readiness,” said Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations.
“Through complex drills in anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and at-sea replenishment, participating nations foster the trust, interoperability, and readiness essential to meeting our shared security challenges,” Vice Admiral Jones added.
The exercise runs from November 10 to 18 in the West Pacific training area.
The Indian Naval Ship INS Sahyadri, a Guided Missile Stealth Frigate built under India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, also joined the exercise, which will include operational planning, communication alignment, and sports during the Harbour Phase, followed by Sea Phase drills in anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, and joint fleet operations.
Participating Australian forces include the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat and a RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, with the Poseidon operating from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. HMAS Ballarat, with a crew of 177 and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, is equipped for air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, and interdiction missions.
The exercise, first held as an annual bilateral training India-US drill in 1992, has evolved into a key Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) maritime activity. While the Quad is not a military alliance, the exercise promotes maritime security and freedom of navigation.
Australia hosted the 2023 iteration.
Commander Dean Uren, of HMAS Ballarat, highlighted the value of collaboration: “Training alongside regional partners ensures our people and platforms are ready to respond to any challenge and deter coercion in the Indo-Pacific.”
“Our participation in Exercise Malabar forms part of our three-month Regional Presence Deployment from Australia, and is fantastic opportunity to enhance interoperability with key Indo-Pacific partners,” Commander Uren said.
“With a crew of 177 and an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, HMAS Ballarat brings significant capability to Exercise Malabar.
HMAS Ballarat is capable of conducting air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction missions.
This ship is fitted with systems, which can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.
(UNI)
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