Visakhapatnam

The Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024 will kick off on October 8 in Visakhapatnam, India, and will see participation from Quad nations: Australia, Japan, and the United States. This year’s exercise consists of two main phases, starting with the Harbour phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by a sea phase.

A special ‘Distinguished Visitors’ Day’ is scheduled for October 9, where Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, will host delegations from all participating countries. Additionally, there will be a Joint Press Conference led by the heads of delegations during the Harbour phase.

Originally a bilateral naval drill between India and the US that began in 1992, Exercise Malabar has evolved into a vital multilateral initiative focused on enhancing cooperation, interoperability, and tackling maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

This year’s exercise will involve various Indian naval platforms, including guided missile destroyers and submarines. The US will send the USS Dewey, Japan will contribute the JS Ariake, and Australia will deploy HMAS Stuart along with its P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Special forces from all four nations will also participate. Malabar 2024 aims to improve operational capabilities through a wide range of activities, including complex maritime operations and expert exchanges on various warfare strategies.