Malabar is a multi-national naval exercise involving the United States and India. Participation has been expanded to include Japan, Australia and/or Singapore as conditions and schedule permit. The exercises have been ongoing since 1992 and are historically held in the Indian Ocean or off the islands of Japan.
Malabar 2014 featured US, Japanese and Indian vessels in wide ranging naval exercises. They included Carrier strike group operations, Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance operations, anti piracy operations and Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, Search and rescue exercises, helicopter cross-deck landings, Underway replenishment, gunnery and anti-submarine warfare exercises, and Liaison officer exchange and embarkation. The exercises this year centered at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, and the at sea portion was held off of southern Japan.
In 2014, the Indian assets participating included INS Ranvijay (Rajput guided missile destroyer), INS Shivalik (Shivalik stealth frigate) and INS Shakti (fleet tanker). The Japanese assets included the JS Ashigara (Atago class guided missile destroyer), the JS Kurama (Shirane class helicopter destroyer), a P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and a ShinMaywa US-2 maritime patrol float plane. The US assets included the USS George Washington (Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carrier) with embarked carrier Air Wing 5; the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (Ticonderoga class AEGIS cruiser); the guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain, USS Stethem, and USS Pinckney (Burke class AEGIS destroyers); along with a P-3C Orion aircraft and a nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN).
US Navy Captain Shan M. Byrne explained that, "throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans the U.S. 7th Fleet and its allies, Japan and partner India, maintain a consistent presence; it's absolutely critical that we train together and build our maritime partnership and understanding."
