Exercise Malabar 2023 to be held off the coast of Australia from August 11-21

Exercise Malabar 2023 will be held off the coast of Sydney from 11 - 21 August 11-21, 2023, marking the first time that it is being hosted by Australia. The Indian Navy's indigenous frontline warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata will participate in Exercise Malabar 2023 along with ships and aircraft from the US Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Malabar 2023 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. The Harbour Phase involves wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and several interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase. The Sea Phase will include various complex and high intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine exercises including live weapon firing drills.

"#AusNavy is ready to host #ExMalabar23! Malabar is a significant Indo-Pacific exercise that deepens interoperability between our regional partners: India, Japan and the US. This year is being held from the 10th-21st Aug, with Australia hosting for the very first time!" the Royal Australian Navy tweeted.

Japan hosted the last edition of Exercise Malabar which was held in November 2022.

The Malabar series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between Indian Navy and US Navy and has grown in stature over the years to include four prominent navies in the Indo-Pacific Region. The 2020 edition witnessed the maiden participation of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This year marks the 27th edition of Malabar which is being hosted by Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

“The exercise provides an opportunity to the Indian Navy to enhance and demonstrate interoperability and also gain from the best practices in maritime security operations from its partner nations,” the Ministry of Defence maintained.

INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata had stopped at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on their way to Australia. INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multi-role stealth frigates and is currently commanded by Capt Rajan Kapoor. INS Kolkata is the first ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-15A class destroyers and is commanded by Capt Sharad Sinsunwal.

Both ships have been built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and are fitted with a state-of-the-art array of weapons and sensors to detect and neutralise threats in surface, air and underwater domains.