'Malabar 2018' focuses on increasing maritime interoperability

Guam Coast [USA], June 19 (ANI): A trilateral maritime exercise, Malabar 2018, between the United States, Japan, and Indian maritime services was conducted off the Guam Coast from June 7 to 16.

The exercise was focused on increasing maritime interoperability training objectives among the three maritime forces, emphasising high-end war fighting skills, maritime superiority, and power projection.

The exercise was held in two phases in Guam and the Philippine Sea.

The Guam exercise included a session by subject matter experts and professionals who discussed maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage control, helicopter operations, ship tours, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

The at-sea portions conducted in the Philippine Sea were designed to advance participating nations' military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.

Multiple sessions were held at the Philippine Sea including professional exchanges and embark a photo exercise, submarine familiarisation, high-value unit defense, air defense exercises, surface warfare exercises, communications exercises, search and rescue exercises, helicopter cross-deck evolutions, underway replenishments, gunnery exercises, VBSS exercises, and anti-submarine warfare.

Initiated in 1992, Malabar exercise used to be conducted between India and the United States. Later in 2015, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also joined the exercise.

Malabar Exercise 2018 was the first one to be conducted in the Guam operation region. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI