Indo-US Naval exercise to begin Tuesday

The Malabar 2013 annual war drill of the Indian and US navies will commence Tuesday and will witness the two forces practising a series of maneuvers including search and seizures and anti-submarine warfare measures, an official release said.

The exercise, which will conclude Nov 13, will feature both ashore and at-sea training.

The at-sea portions will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal. The ashore training will include exchanges among experts.

"These are designed to advance the participating nations' military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment," the release said.

Events planned during the at-sea portion include professional exchanges and embarkations, communications exercises, surface action group operations, leapfrogs, helicopter cross-deck evolution, gunnery exercises, search and seizure and and anti-submarine warfare measures, the release said.

The guided missile destroyer INS Ranvijay, the frigate INS Shivalik and TU-142M maritime reconnaissance aircraft will take part in the exercise. Participation from the US Navy includes the the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell and P3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

Malabar has grown in scope and complexity.

"Malabar 2013 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises conducted to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues," the release said.

It said that the United States and India share common values and seafaring traditions.

"Our navies are natural partners, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds and personnel relations between relationships between our navies through the conduct of the Malabar series of exercises," the release said.