The 28th edition of the multi-national (India, US, Japan and Singapore) maritime exercise Malabar 2024 was held under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command for October 8 to 18. The 2024 edition of the exercise was inaugurated onboard INS Satpura at Visakhapatnam on October 9.

The ceremony, hosted by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar was attended by senior naval and military dignitaries from participating nations. The heads of delegations and other dignitaries participating included Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan, General Yoshihide Yoshida, Commander US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Stephen Koehler, C-in-C, Japan Self Defence Fleet VAdm. Katsushi Omachi, and Commander Australian Fleet RAdm. Chris Smith. The crew and planning staff of participating ships, aircraft and special forces from Australia, India, Japan and the USA were also present. The commanders of all participating navies acknowledged the importance of Malabar Exercise in enhancing understanding, collaboration and engagement to address common maritime challenges and to create cooperative framework.

The exercise was conducted in two phases at Harbour and at Sea. The harbour activities included key leadership engagement (KLE), subject matter expert exchange (SMEE), cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sailing discussions, all aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation, building camaraderie, and fostering operational synergy. Key leadership engagement of the senior naval hierarchy has been a special feature of the exercise, with Vice Admiral Pendharkar, Admiral Koehler, Vice Admiral Omachi and Rear Admiral Chris Smith meeting to discuss ways to strengthen mutual naval interoperability and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the future of Malabar exercises.

Further reinforcing this bond, the Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and cross-deck visits provided valuable opportunities for the participating nations to exchange knowledge and best practices towards promoting deeper engagement and understanding. These interactions highlighted the importance of collaboration to enhance maritime security and achieve shared goals in maritime operations. Additionally, the crews from Australia, India, Japan and the United States participated in friendly sports events, reinforcing the camaraderie and bonhomie among the teams. From the seas to the fields, the spirit of teamwork and friendship embodied the theme of Stronger Together, exemplifying the spirit of Malabar 2024 beyond naval operations.

Towards the closure of the harbour phase, pre-sailing discussions took centrestage, focusing on strategies to ensure maximum operational synergy during the sea phase in the Bay of Bengal. The multifaceted interactions at various levels have all been instrumental in cementing cooperation, sharing expertise, and enhancing maritime security.

The sea phase commenced on October 14 off the coast of Visakhapatnam. Naval warships, embarked integral helicopters and long-range maritime patrol aircraft from Australia, India, Japan and USA exercised in unison, demonstrating a high level of collaboration and operational synergy. The participating navies engaged in a wide range of maritime warfare operations, covering the surface, sub-surface, and air warfare domains. These advanced and complex exercises were designed to enhance mutual understanding and coordination, with the aim of operating seamlessly as a Combined Task Force at sea. Indian submarines participated in the sub-surface warfare exercise, along with the Special Forces from participating nations. The exercise further strengthened interoperability between the participating nations and contributed towards enhancing regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.