Indian, Japanese, U.S. maritime forces begin Malabar exercise

SANTA RITA, Guam – Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2018, June 7 through 16 off the coast of Guam.

Malabar began in 1992 and this year marks the 22nd edition of the exercise. The exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training. While ashore in Guam, 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, helicopter operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

The at-sea portions will be conducted in the Philippine Sea 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, a photo exercise, submarine familiarization, high-value unit and air defense exercises, medical evacuation drills, surface warfare exercises, communications exercises, search and rescue exercises; helicopter cross-deck evolutions, underway replenishments, gunnery exercises, VBSS exercises and anti-submarine warfare.

Participants from the U.S. Navy in the at-sea phase of the exercise include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

Indian, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces 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 nations’ Sailors as members of Indo-Pacific nations, and the hope is to be able to continue this process over time to strengthen bonds and personal relationships.

In addition to the U.S. Navy forces, three ships from the Indian Navy and three ships from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force will participate in the exercise. Please refer to the Japan Maritime Staff Office for any further information about their forces. Please refer to the Indian Navy Headquarters for any further information about their forces.