Exercise Malabar is a naval exercise involving India, the United States and Japan as permanent partners. Australia re-joined the exercise in 2020. The annual Malabar exercises includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, diving salvage operations, amphibious operations, counter-piracy operations, cross–deck helicopter landings and anti–air warfare operations. Over the years, the exercise has been conducted in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Japan, the Persian Gulf, in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It is conducted by the Asian and the North American Commands.
The exercise started in 1992 along the Malabar Coast as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States. It was expanded in 2007 with the participation of Japan, Singapore and Australia. Japan became a permanent partner in 2015. Since 2020, Australia participated in the exercise again, marking the second time that the Quad will be jointly participating in a military exercise. The aim of the exercise includes increasing interoperability between the naval forces.
The duration of the exercise has ranged from 1 to 11 sea-days. The complexity and sophistication of the exercise has increased over the years. Exercises have on-shore and at-sea stages. The average participation by India increased from 8 ships to just over 9 from 2002 to 2014.
Exercises have included aircraft carriers (USS , , , , INS , ), helicopter carriers (JS , , , ), frigates, submarines (diesel-electric and nuclear), destroyers, guided-missile vessels, cruisers, amphibious ships and auxiliary ships such as tankers. Coast guard vessels have also taken part. Aircraft have included the P3C Orion, Poseidon P8I, Tupolev Tu-142, Kawasaki P-1, ShinMaywa US-2, F/A 18 Super Hornets, Jaguars, Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters. Special forces have also taken part.
1992–2002 The first Malabar exercise between India and the United States was held on 28/29 May 1992. The exercises were located along the Malabar Coast in Cochin, headquarters of the Indian Southern Naval Command, and Goa. It was of an elementary level, including four vessels, passing exercises and basic maneuvers. Two more exercises were conducted before 1998, when the Americans suspended exercises after India tested nuclear weapons. EditionYearParticipantsExercise AreaVesselsExercisesRef11992 India's west coastFrequency sharing, basic maneuvers, search and rescue.21995 Persian Gulf31996 India's west coast
2002–2007
The United States renewed military contact following the 2001 September 11 attacks when India joined President George W Bush's campaign against international terrorism. The 2003 exercises featured sub-surface exercises for the first time. In 2005 India and US signed the New Framework for the India - U.S. Defence Relationship. Malabar 2005 saw the inclusion of aircraft carriers from both navies for the first time. 2006 was the first time expeditionary exercises took place with a United States Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) leading the exercise. Malabar 2007 was the first time three aircraft carriers took part.
In 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an initiative between Japan, United States, Australia and India impacted the Malabar exercise. In 2007, for the first time, navies other than Indian and US joined the exercise with the armada including Japan, Singapore and Australia. Also for the first time, the exercise was shifted from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
India's Left Front parties that have criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government on the India-US civilian nuclear deal had vehemently protested the exercise, seeing it as another sign of the growing closeness between the two countries. At one time, the Indian government was known to have considered postponing or canceling the exercise but the Indian Navy put its foot down, saying the logistics involved made any delay impossible. Protests against were seen in India when it dropped anchor off Chennai in July.
China, which did not officially comment on the exercise, was known to be unhappy over the event as it was being conducted in the Bay of Bengal for the first time. China has been cultivating naval cooperation with Bangladesh and Myanmar to gain access to the Bay of Bengal and has been strengthening military cooperation with Sri Lanka. In June, China had issued a 'demarche' to India, United States, Japan and Australia seeking details about their four-nation meeting, termed a Quadrilateral Initiative. India and Australia had quickly assured Beijing that security and defence issues did not form part of the meeting's agenda.
EditionYearParticipantsExercise AreaVesselsExercisesRef42002 Arabian SeaBasic passing maneuvers, anti-submarine (ASW) exercises and replenishment-at-sea drills 52003 India's west coast3 dimensional, anti-submarine warfare exercises, helicopter maneuvers, VBSS drills62004 India's west coast, , , , , War at sea, submarine familiarization exercises, small boat transfers, group maneuvers, nighttime maneuvers, VBSS drills72005 India's west coastDissimilar air combat tactics (DACT), joint salvage diving exercises, a 24-hour 'war at sea' simulation82006 India's west coast Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG; 13 ships including amphibious ships, cruisers, destroyers, , marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit) Indian guided missile frigates and destroyers
Coast guard ships included and an Indian Coast Guard patrol shipExpeditionary ops. Exchange of coast guard practices in maritime law enforcement, anti-piracy operations, pollution control, search and rescue, and VBSS support. During the second phase, BOXESG conducted Indian port stops including Mumbai and Goa allowing it a chance to experience Indian culture, re-supply, and support a Habitat for Humanity project.92007 Philippine SeaThree carriers , ,
, , , , , ,
, , , , and various Indian Naval aircraft.Command of the sea, maritime interdiction, exercises in all warfare areas. VBSS drills, surface exercises, coordinated fire, air defense and ASW exercises.102007 Bay of Bengal27 ships (8 of Indian Navy, 14 from US Navy, and the remaining from JMSDF, RAN, RSN) , , , two guided missile cruisers, and six guided missile destroyers.
, , , , ,
RAN represented by a frigate and a tanker; JMSDF by two destroyers; and RSN by a frigate.DACT, cross deck exercises, patrollings, air defence and ASW exercises, exercises related to maritime threats
2008–2014
Domestic political changes in Australia and Japan, as well as China's opposition, resulted in Malabar 2008 being on a much smaller scale with only participation from India and the US, and being conducted in the Indian Ocean. Some protests in India against the 2008 exercise were led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
While the 2009 exercises were trilateral, India did not participate in the amphibious assault exercise in Japan.
India had stopped involving more countries in the exercises after China, in 2007, sent demarches to all the participants of a five-nation naval exercise held in the Bay of Bengal. With the Japanese participation in 2009 raising no political storm, India was once again agreeable to the idea of allowing the JMSDF to participate.
The Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on the east coast of Japan in March 2011 caused Japan to back out of the next Malabar which was held off the Okinawa coast. EditionYearParticipantsExercise AreaVesselsExercisesRef112008 Arabian Sea's Carrier Strike Group Seven, , , , , , ; , , , , ; and a submarine.Surface, sub-surface and air exercises, firing exercises, VBSS122009 Japan, , , , , , , , , VBBS techniques, surface warfare maneuvers, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery training, air defense.132010 India's west coast, , , , , , , , Surface and anti-submarine warfare, coordinated gunnery exercises, air defense, and visit, board, search, and seizure drills. Sailors took part in professional exchanges and discussions while at-sea and on shore. US Navy personnel participated in a community service project during the port visit to Goa.142011 JapanCarrier Strike Group Seven. , ; ; , , ; , .Exercise's coincided with the Indian Navy's western Pacific deployment. Exercise events included liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks; communications exercises; surface action group exercise operations; formation maneuvering; helicopter cross deck evolutions; underway replenishments; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; gunnery exercises; VBSS; maritime strike; air defense; screen exercise and ASW.152012 Bay of BengalCarrier Strike Group 1 comprising , embarked Carrier Air Wing 17, , , . , , , , Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder (17 April 2012). Carrier Strike Group 1 Completes Exercise Malabar 2012 . U.S. 7th Fleet. Communications exercises, surface action group (SAG) operations, helicopter cross-deck evolutions, and gunnery exercises. The participants split into two SAGs, with Bunker Hill leading one and Satpura leading the other.162013 India's east coast, 'At-Sea' phase included professional exchanges and embarkations; communications exercises; Surface Action Group operations; leapfrogs; helicopter cross-deck evolutions; gunnery exercises; VBSS and ASW.172014 Japan, , US Navy Carrier Strike group based on , one submarine, two destroyers, one tankerCarrier strike group operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, anti piracy and VBSS exercises, search and rescue exercises, helicopter cross-deck landings, underway replenishment, gunnery and ASW exercises, and liaison officer exchange and embarkation.
2015–2019
On 26 January 2015, the U.S. President and Indian Prime Minister agreed, in a joint statement, to upgrade exercise Malabar. India invited Japan to be a part of exercise, held in the Bay of Bengal.Malabar-15 naval exercise begins. Deccan Herald. 15 October 2015. Japan joined as a permanent member.
In 2015, the United States brought up the fact that India was doing its "bare minimum" with regard the participation in the exercise. However, seeming to understand India's limitation, the United States has also responded accordingly. For India, one of the reasons for converting Malabar into a multilateral exercise has been "resource optimisation". As the number of maritime bilateral exercises over the years has been increasing, the Navy's resources are heavily strained. Further, the returns from the international exercises seem to be levelling out. Inviting China to "socialise" during the Malabar exercises has been suggested.
The 2018 Malabar exercise was conducted from 7 to 16 June 2018 off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea. This was the 22nd edition of the exercise and the first time it was held on United States territory. The exercise is divided into two phases. The harbour phase was held from 7 to 10 June at Naval Base Guam, and the sea phase from 11 to 16 June. Based on news reports, India refused Australia participation in the exercise to avoid posturing it as a military group against China. EditionYearParticipantsExercise AreaVesselsExercisesRef182015 Bay of Bengal, , , , , , , 192016 Philippine Sea with embarked Carrier Air Wing 9, , , , , , , Submarine familiarization (SUBFAM); high-value unit exercises; medical drills and other exercises and maneuvers.202017 Bay of BengalA total of 16 ships, 2 submarines and 95 aircraft participated in this exercise., , , , , , , Sindhughosh-class submarine,
, , , and , a Los Angeles-class submarine
and its air wing, Aircraft carrier operations, air defense, ASW, surface warfare, VBSS, search and rescue (SAR), joint and tactical procedures. Joint training between the naval special forces.212018 Philippine Sea, , .
, , , a Los Angeles-class submarine