India to host Japan, US for Bay of Bengal naval drill

India is set to host maritime forces from Japan and the U.S. for this year’s annual trilateral exercise Malabar.

The 2017 edition of the exercise is scheduled to take place in the Bay of Bengal in mid-Summer.

Malabar 2016 was hosted by Japan with the at sea phase taking place in the Philippine Sea.

The 2017 exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training off the eastern coast of India in the Bay of Bengal.

According to the U.S. Navy, training will focus on high-end warfighting skillsets, subject matter expert and professional exchanges, combined carrier strike group operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, surface and anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage control, special forces, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), helicopter operations, and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

The full list of ships and units taking part in the exercise is yet to be announced.