Malabar 2021 starts in the Western Pacific

A small anniversary can be celebrated in the western Pacific these days. The Malabar exercise is now taking place for the 25th time. Malabar began in 1992 as an Indian-American project, with Japan joining as a permanent member in 2015. This year, the Australian frigate Warramunga make a contribution. The Australians had already sent a ship to take part in the annual manoeuvre last year. Between 26 and 29 August, the crews practise fighting together against threats from the air, from the sea and from the deep.
As the organising nation, the United States, with the Arleigh-Burke-Destroyer Barrythe two tankers Rappahannock and Big Horn and P-8A maritime patrol aircraft. India sends the frigate Shivalik and the ASW corvette Kadmatt into the race. In addition, the Indian version of the Poseidon, the P-8I, will be used for submarine hunting. Finally, the Japanese Self-Defence Forces will participate with the helicopter destroyer Kaga and the two destroyers Murasame and Shiranui.

Text: mb; Photo: US Navy