India, USA and Japan in joint Naval exercise

The Naval personnel of the three countries will participate in the event called Complex, High-end war-fighting exercise.

The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force’s sole representative is the missile destroyer JS Fuyuzuki, along with an SH 60K integral helicopter.

The Indian Navy will bring a Rajput-class destroyer, Brahmaputra-class and Shivalik-class frigates, a Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhudhwaj, and an additional fleet support ship. Vice Admiral J P Aucoin of the US Navy said his country had been partnering with India in the Malabar series of exercises since 1992, adding the two shared the common interest of a “stable economic environment” in the region.

Japan’s participation in the ongoing trilateral naval exercise- MALABAR-2015- was not targeted at any country, a senior Japanese officer today said. Each iteration of this exercise helps to advance the level of understanding between our Sailors and we hope to be able to continue this process over time.

A multi-nation Malabar exercise in 2007 involving Japan, Singapore and Australia besides India and Japan also drew diplomatic objections from China. The Sindhugosh class submarine INS Sindhudhvaj, long range maritime patrol aircraft P8I and integral rotary wing helicopters will also be participating in the exercise.

The US Navy will be represented by the ships from Carrier Task Force (CTF) 70 of the USN 7th Fleet, which is based at Yokosuka, Japan. The release also mentioned that sharing of best practices by the three navies will strengthen their respective capacities and help create better synergies for effective and speedy action to deal with challenges of disaster prevention and relief and maritime safety and security in the Indo-Pacific region, for the benefit of the global maritime community.

Participants from the U.S. Navy include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with embarked Carrier Air Wing 1, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3); a P-8A Poseidon aircraft; and a Los Angeles-Class fast-attack submarine. “We have submarine to submarine exercises, we have anti-submarine warfare, we have surface shoots, air defence exercises (and) Visit Boat Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills”, said Verma.