Quad kicks off 2nd phase of naval drills

New Delhi, October 12

The second phase of the high-voltage Malabar exercise featuring the navies of all four Quad countries — India, the US, Australia and Japan — began in the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday.

The US has deployed its nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson for the four-day mega wargame.

The first phase of the exercise took place off the coast of Guam in the Western Pacific from August 26-29.

Indian Navy officials said the second phase of the Malabar exercise was featuring a number of complex drills involving several frontline warships and other assets of the four navies.

The Indian Navy deployed its frontline warships INS Ranvijay and INS Satpura, a submarine and a fleet of P8I long range maritime patrol aircraft for the exercise.

The beginning of the second phase of the Malabar exercise coincided with visit to India of Chief of US naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday.

Admiral Gilday on Tuesday held extensive talks with Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on further boosting overall bilateral maritime security cooperation. He is scheduled to embark on the USN Carrier Strike Group off the East Coast of India along with an Indian delegation to witness the Malabar exercise. Admiral Gilday is also scheduled to visit Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command, Mumbai, and Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. — TNS