Indian Navy’s indigenous frontline warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata participated in Exercise Malabar 2023 off Sydney, Australia from August 11-21, 2023 along with ships and aircraft from the US Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The Indian Navy was represented by indigenously built Destroyer INS Kolkata, Frigate INS Sahyadri and P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Other participating units included RAN ships HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane, USS Raphael Peralta, JS Shiranui, along with submarines, fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and shipborne helicopters.

INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multi-role stealth frigates while INS Kolkata is the first ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-15A class destroyers. Both ships have been built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and are fitted with state-of-the-art array of weapons and sensors to detect and neutralise threats in surface, air and underwater domains.

Malabar series of maritime exercise 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 was hosted by Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Malabar 2023 was conducted in two phases. The Harbour Phase involved wideranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and several interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase. The Sea Phase included various complex and high intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and antisubmarine exercises including live weapon firing drills. The sea phase of Exercise Malabar witnessed complex and high intensity exercises in air, surface and undersea domains, weapon firings and cross deck helicopter operations. The joint exercises at sea honed the war-fighting skills and enhanced interoperability between the four navies to undertake advanced maritime operations. The seamless integration of air assets also showcased the exceptional coordination and interoperability between the Indian, Australian and US maritime patrol aircraft units. The exercise not only reaffirmed the ability of the four navies to operate together as an integrated force but also highlighted their shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability through collaborative training and mutual understanding.

The 27th edition of the exercise concluded on the East Coast of Australia off Sydney on August 21, 2023. At the culmination of five days of multifarious exercises, Exercise Malabar vividly showcased the strong cooperation, shared values and the collective ability of the four participating nations to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific promoting peace and security for all. 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.