Aims to promote regional stability for a prosperous Indo-Pacific
Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command hailed MALABAR 2024 as being one of the most coveted exercises carried among the 4 navies of India, Australia, USA and Japan.
Addressing media at the opening ceremony of MALABAR 2024 under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command VADM Pendharkar stated that MALABAR reaffirms Indian navy’s commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region and enhances cooperation among like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific.
MALABAR, which was initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US, gained further traction as a significant maritime engagement, with Japan and Australia joining in subsequently.
The 28th edition of the multi-national maritime exercise commenced on 8 Oct 24 and extended till 18 Oct 24 wherein an estimated eight ships and nearly a dozen aircraft took part in the exercise.
The ceremony, hosted by Vice Admiral Pendharkar was also attended by senior naval and military dignitaries from participating nations.
‘I am sitting here with a group of friends. This is a phenomenal opportunity for us to work together. We value this partnership with the Indian Navy’ said Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander US Pacific Fleet addressing the media.
Similarly other dignitaries participating in the media interaction included General Yoshihide YOSHIDA, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan, VAdm Katsushi OMACHI, C-in-C, Japan Self Defence Fleet and RAdm Chris Smith, Commander Australian Fleet.
The Commanders of all participating navies acknowledged the importance of MALABAR in enhancing understanding, collaboration and engagement to address common maritime challenges and to create a cooperative framework.
‘It has been 17 years since the JMSDF participated in Malabar for the first time in 2007’ said JMSDF Vice Adm. Katsushi Omachi, commander in chief, Self Defence Fleet.
Similarly, Australia’s Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Jonathan Ley commented ‘Exercise Malabar is a significant Indo-Pacific maritime activity that deepens interoperability and collaboration among key regional partners’.
The exercise was conducted in two distinct phases both at Harbour and at Sea. MALABAR 2024 witnessed live weapon firings, complex surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills and joint manoeuvres.
The high-tempo event also witnessed participation by destroyers, frigates, corvettes and fleet support ships along with long range maritime patrol aircraft, jet aircraft, integral helicopters and submarine assets.
The lead of this year’s exercise was India. The Malabar planning and exercise lead rotates each year among participating nations, along with the exercise location to demonstrate the combined ability to exercise across the entire Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
As part of the harbour activities during the Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024, participating navies – India, Australia, Japan, and the United States actively engaged in various collaborative events at Visakhapatnam, coordinated by the Eastern Naval Command.
Similarly a key leadership engagement of the senior naval hierarchy also took place with Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command & Senior Naval Officers of the three navies.