India, Japan and U.S. navies to participate in Malabar 2015

India, Japan and the U.S. navies will participate in exercise Malabar 2015 beginning today to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues.

Malabar is a complex, high-end warfighting exercise that has grown in scope and complexity over the years.

The exercise, which will end on October 19, will feature both ashore and at-sea training. While ashore in Chennai, training will include subject matter expert and professional exchanges on carrier strike group operations; maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations; surface and anti-submarine warfare; medical operations; damage control; explosive ordnance disposal (EOD); helicopter operations; and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

The at-sea portions will be conducted off the east coast of India and are designed to advance participating nations' military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.

Events planned during the at-sea portions include liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks; photo exercise; submarine familiarization; high-value unit defense; air defense exercises; mine exercise; medevac; surface warfare exercises; communications exercises; search and rescue exercises; helicopter cross-deck evolutions; underway replenishments; gunnery exercises; visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises; and anti-submarine warfare.

Participants from the U.S. Navy include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with embarked Carrier Air Wing 1, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3); a P-8A Poseidon aircraft; and a Los Angeles-Class fast-attack submarine.

The Indian, Japan and U.S. navies have a common understanding and knowledge of a shared working environment at sea. Each iteration of this exercise helps to advance the level of understanding between the sailors.

As members of Pacific nations, the navies of the three nations are natural partners and look forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds and personal relationships.