US, India, Japan conclude major Bay of Bengal drill

Ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S., India and Japan concluded their participation in the week-long Bay of Bengal exercise Malabar 2017

The exercise was designed to advance military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.

Exercise Malabar began in 1992 and this year marks the 21st rendition of the exercise.

Participating units included ships from the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz carrier strike group, Ticonderoga-class cruiser Princeton, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Kidd, Howard and Shoup and a Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Japan contributed helicopter carrier JS Izumo with SH 60K helicopters and missile destroyer JS Sazanami.

Host nation India deployed the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, guided missile destroyer Ranvir, indigenous stealth frigates Shivalik and Sahyadri, indigenous ASW corvette Kamorta, missile corvettes Kora and Kirpan, one Sindhughosh class submarine, fleet tanker INS Jyoti and long range maritime patrol aircraft.

“Exercise Malabar is a great symbol of friendship between India, the United States and Japan,” said Indian Navy Rear Adm. Biswajit Dasgupta, flag officer commanding Eastern Fleet. “Malabar is one of the main elements in our defense partnership, and it conveys a message that the three countries are willing to work together closely in the maritime arena.”