Malabar (naval exercise)
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Exercise Malabar is a multilateral naval exercise involving the United States, India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. The annual MALABAR series began in 1992, and includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers, through Maritime Interdiction Operations Exercises.[1]
History
Three exercises were conducted prior to 1998, when the Americans suspended exercises after India tested nuclear weapons.[2] However, Washington renewed military contacts following the September 11 attacks when India joined President George W Bush's campaign against international terrorism.
In 2002, the exercises comprised basic passing maneuvers among naval vessels, anti-submarine exercises and replenishment-at-sea drills.
In 2003, US warships, USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USS Chosin (CG-65); US submarine USS Pasadena (SSN-752); Indian guided missile frigates, INS Brahmaputra and INS Ganga; Indian submarine INS Shalki and several aircraft conducted anti-submarine warfare tactics.[3]
In 2004, Malabar participants included advanced assets like the USS Alexandria (SSN-757), a Los Angeles class submarine, and US Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. This enabled both navies to engage in submarine familiarization exercises, a key capability for anti-submarine warfare collaboration.
In 2005, Malabar featured the participation of the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and INS Viraat. During a month of operations, US and Indian forces collaborated on a wide variety of tasks ranging from a joint diving salvage operation to a 24-hour 'war at sea' simulation that saw the two forces engage in mock combat.[4][5][6]
In 2006, a US expeditionary strike group comprising amphibious ships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines participated in the exercise for the first time.
2007
Malabar-2007, besides interception and dissimilar air combat exercises, featured surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction and Visit, board, search, and seizure operations to counter piracy and terrorist acts at sea. On 4 September 2007, the naval exercise included 25 vessels from India, the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal. This was the first time a joint exercise of this scale involving 25 vessels was conducted, an event that India says is a pointer to the country's growing importance on the world stage. The drill was previously a bilateral India-US engagement and was expanded for the first time.
India's Left parties that have been giving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government a hard time on the India-US civilian nuclear deal, had vehemently protested the joint drill, seeing it as yet another sign of the growing closeness between New Delhi and Washington. At one time, the Indian government was known to have considered postponing or even canceling the drill but the Indian Navy put its foot down, saying the logistics involved made any delay impossible.
China, which has not officially commented on the drill initially, was known to be unhappy over the event as it is 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 also 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.
The operational area of Malabar-2007 stretched from Vizag on the eastern seaboard to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that guard the approaches to the Strait of Malacca, considered one of the world's busiest waterways. The US Navy had the largest representation during Malabar-2007 with 13 warships, including the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that was protested[7] when it dropped anchor off Chennai in July. The other vessels included the conventionally powered carrier USS Kitty Hawk, the nuclear submarine USS Chicago (SSN-721), two guided missile cruisers, and six guided missile destroyers. Eight warships of India, including the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, represented the Indian Navy. Viraat's Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters, and the Indian Air Force's Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft were also seen in action. Australia was represented by a frigate and a tanker; Japan by two destroyers; and Singapore by a frigate.
2008
From 19 October 2008, Exercise MALABAR 08, the twelfth of the series, was conducted in the Arabian Sea. The purpose of Malabar 2008 was to promote increase inter-operability between the United States and India, with a special emphasis on maritime interdiction, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operation.[8] Rear Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet (FOCWF), noted:
- "This greatly enhances our two navies’ interoperability, which is very important to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, as well as issues of maritime security and piracy."[9]
The US Navy was represented by the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)'s Carrier Strike Group Seven. In addition, one submarine, USS Springfield (SSN-761), and one P3C Orion aircraft also participated in the exercise.[1][10] Joining Carrier Group Seven were the fast combat support ship Bridge and the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine Springfield and a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft.[8][9] Indian naval units included guided-missile destroyers Mumbai and Rana; the guided-missile frigates Talwar, Godavari, Brahmaputra, and Betwa; the replenishment tanker Aditya; and a Shishumar-class diesel-electric submarine.[8][1]
2011
The Malabar Series of Exercises, from April 2 to April 10, 2011 will be held off the Okinawa coast.[11] India had stopped involving more countries in the Indo-U.S. 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 2010 raising no political storm, India was once again agreeable to the idea of allowing the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force to participate.[11]
Carrier Strike Group Seven was able to participate in Malabar 2011.[12] U.S. naval units initially included the guided-missile destroyers Sterett and Stethem; the guided-missile frigate Reuben James; and nuclear powered attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN-763). Indian naval units included the guided-missile destroyers Delhi, Ranvijay, and INS Ranvir (D54); the corvette INS Kirch (P62); and the replenishment tanker Jyoti.[12][13][14]
The at-sea portions were conducted in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Luzon Strait, and east of Okinawa. The exercise's location coincided with the Indian Navy's western Pacific deployment.[12] Malabar 2011 was designed to advance U.S.-Indian coordination and operational capacity. 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; visit, board, search and seizure; maritime strike; air defense; screen exercise and anti-submarine warfare.[13] U.S. and Indian navy ships ended the exercise on 9 April 2011.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Military Exercises –– Feb to Nov 2008".
- ^ "India, US hold naval exercises". BBC News. 2003-10-05.
- ^ "Indo-U.S. naval exercise begins today". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2003-10-06.
- ^ "Malabar 05: Indo-US Aircraft Carriers to Conduct Joint Exercise in Arabian Sea".
- ^ http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/29navy.htm More than expected achieved during Indo-US naval exercises
- ^ http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/may/31sld04.htm Interview with Admiral Gary Roughead, Commander, US Pacific Fleet
- ^ "USS Nimitz touches Chennai port despite protests". 2007-07-02.
- ^ a b c "Malabar 2008: India, United States Begin Arabian Sea Naval War Games from October 20th 2008". Indian Defence. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ a b Lt. Ron Flanders (17 October 2008). "U.S. Navy Ships Arrive in India for 10th Malabar Exercise". Carrier Strike Group 7 Public Affairs. U.S. Seventh Fleet. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ "Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Concludes Operations in 7th Fleet AOR".
- ^ a b Dikshit, Sandeep (16 February 2011). "Japan to take part in India-U.S. naval exercises again". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
- ^ a b c Mass Communication Specialist Aaron M. Pineda, USN (10 April 2011). "Malabar 2011 Enters Final Phase". NNS110410-01. U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ a b "Seventh Fleet to Conduct Exercise Malabar with Indian Navy". NNS110402-12. U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ Mass Communication Specialist Aaron M. Pineda, USN (10 April 2011). "U.S., Indian Navies Kick Off Malabar 2011". NNS110405-08. U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs. Retrieved 2011-02-28.