MALABAR 2021 exercise to be conducted from August 26-29 in Philippines Sea: Indian Navy
The Indian Navy warships will participate in Exercise Malabar 2021 with the US, Australian and Japanese navies.
Indian Navy ship (Representational photo)
Key Highlights
- INS Ranvijay and INS Kora will participate in Exercise Malabar 2021
- China has claimed South China Sea as its sovereign territory and formed military bases
New Delhi: In a strong message to ‘expansionist’ China, the 25th edition of the MALABAR exercise will be conducted from August 26-29 in the Philippines Sea, the Indian Navy said on Wednesday. The US, Australian and Japanese navies will participate in Malabar 2021 exercise.
The aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the participating navies, develop common understanding and SOPs for Maritime Security Operations, the Indian Navy said in its statement.
MALABAR-21 will witness exercises covering all three domains of maritime warfare including-live weapon firing, anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, joint manoeuvres and tactical exercises, the Indian Navy further added.
Notably, the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna took part in a Maritime Partnership Exercise together with two Indian Navy ships namely INS Ranvijay (Guided Missile Destroyer, D55) and INS Kora (Guided Missile Corvette, P61) on August 23 in the West Philippine Sea.
INS Ranvijay and INS Kora were deployed by the Indian Navy to improve maritime security coordination with partner nations such as the Philippines who have both enjoyed a long-standing friendly relationship for seventy-two years. Since 1998, regular visits by Indian navy vessels to the Philippines have highlighted the two maritime nation-states' defence cooperation.
The 2020 Malabar exercise which took place in two phases, was conducted in Bay of bengal and Northern Arabian Sea. Phase 1 of the exercise witnessed participation by Indian Navy, United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy.
Phase 2 of MALABAR exercise 2020 witnessed joint operations, centered around the Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group of the Indian Navy and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy.
RELATED NEWS
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 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, the Indian Navy had said in its statement.