NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, NOV 21
The 24th edition of the MALABAR maritime exercise, hosted by the Indian Navy in two phases, concluded in the Arabian Sea on Friday. It was conducted in the Arabian Sea from November 17-.20 which saw the participation of four countries — India, the USA, Australia, and Japan, a defence release said.
24th edition of #Malabar maritime exercise, hosted by Indian Navy concluded in Arabian Sea on 20 Nov 20. Phase 1 was conducted off Visakhapatnam in Bay of Bengal fm 3-6 November 2020. 2nd phase was conducted in the Arabian Sea fm 17-20 Nov20@SpokespersonMoD@indiannavy pic.twitter.com/ByOVtI4hxH
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 20, 2020
During Phase 2 of Exercise MALABAR 2020, the four navies participated in joint operations centered on the Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group of the Indian Navy and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy. The two aircraft carriers, along with other ships, submarines, and aircraft of the participating navies, engaged in high-intensity naval operations including cross-deck flying operations and advanced air defence exercises by MIG 29K fighters of Vikramaditya and F/A-18 fighters and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz. US Navy’s Strike Carrier Nimitz was accompanied by cruiser Princeton and destroyer Sterett in addition to P8A maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The Royal Australian Navy and JMSDF were represented by frigate Ballarat and destroyer Murasame respectively, along with their integral helicopters.
#Malabar2020 Coordinated Practice firings on aerial as well as surface targets were undertaken. Both evolutions were successful with a high degree of accuracy indicating crew and weapon preparedness of the participating navies. @indiannavy @SpokespersonMoD @DDNewsGujarati pic.twitter.com/U4aoHnrMSy
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 20, 2020
Indian Navy’s participation in Phase 2 was led by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and included aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, indigenous destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, stealth frigate Talwar, Fleet Support Ship Deepak and the integral helicopters of these warships, indigenously built submarine Khanderi and P8I and IL-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
High tempo of fighter flying operations from the decks of the two participating aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and
USS Nimitz@harshoza03 @DevMeghna @anishsingh21 @rech12 @Palaksharmanews @adhirasy @utsav_india @anchorchirag @DefencePRO_Guj @SapnaSngh pic.twitter.com/6MCzVmeiEl— Nishith Joshi (@iisnishith) November 19, 2020
In addition to ‘Dual Carrier’ operations, advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolutions, and weapon firings were also undertaken during both phases of MALABAR 2020, demonstrating the synergy, coordination, and interoperability between the four friendly navies.
#Malabar2020 phase 2 Arabian Sea some visuals@SpokespersonMoD @indiannavy @mansukhmandviya @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/WCXrJbSr4u
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 19, 2020
The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992, has seen increasing scope and complexity over the years. The 24th edition of MALABAR, conducted in a ‘non-contact at sea only’ format in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, was reflective of the commitment of the participating countries to support a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific as well as a rules-based international order.