Why is it in the news?

• The Quad group, consisting of India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S., has conducted back-to-back naval exercises to enhance interoperability and refine anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Exercise Malabar

• “Exercise Malabar,” held from October 8 to 18 off the coast of Visakhapatnam, was described by the Indian Navy as the most comprehensive edition to date. The exercise included a harbour phase in Visakhapatnam and a sea phase in the Bay of Bengal.
• The Indian Navy emphasized that the exercise demonstrates the commitment of participating nations to improving collaboration and engagement in the maritime domain amid growing security challenges.
• Initially a bilateral drill between India and the U.S. in 1992, Exercise Malabar has evolved into a vital multilateral event focused on enhancing interoperability and addressing shared maritime issues in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

Focus Areas

• The exercises concentrated on anti-submarine warfare and undersea domain awareness, reflecting concerns about the rapid expansion of the Chinese Navy and its increasing activities in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Participants engaged in complex surface, sub-surface, and air warfare exercises, including weapon firings, air defence drills, and extensive helicopter operations.

Exercise Kakadu

• Prior to Malabar, the Quad nations participated in “Exercise Kakadu,” hosted by the Royal Australian Navy from September 9 to 20.
• This exercise involved nearly 3,000 personnel from 30 countries, along with ships and aircraft from multiple nations, highlighting Australia’s commitment to regional maritime security and international partnerships.