According to Department of Defence, the Royal Australian Navy will join key regional partners India, Japan and the United States for Exercise MALABAR 2021.
This is the second consecutive year that Australia has been invited to participate in Exercise MALABAR.
Last year, this exercise was conducted in Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal.
The Australian Navy will send one ship, an ASW helicopter, and special forces to MALABAR.
It is reported that ANZAC class frigate HMAS Warramunga will join ships and aircraft from participating nations.
Indian Navy will be represented by two surface combatants led by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay and Frigate INS Shivalik.
Apart from these, maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I, ASW helicopters and Special Forces (Marine Commandos-MARCOS) will also be part of the Indian side.
Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, said Australia’s participation in the multilateral Exercise MALABAR 2021 would strengthen our collective ability to contribute to regional security.
“Australia is committed to working closely with our partners to address shared regional challenges, including in the maritime domain. Our forces’ participation in Exercise MALABAR 2021 will enhance the region’s maritime interoperability and is a key cooperative activity between us.”
Vice Admiral Michael Noonan adds:
“We regularly work with India, Japan and the United States to build our professional relationships and strengthen the foundations for an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific.”
Exercise MALABAR will see forces conduct a range of maritime operations.
These include live firings and anti-submarine warfare operations.
This high-end military exercise will take place from August 25 to August 29 off the coast of Guam in the Indo-Pacific.
