The four-nation joint maritime military exercise "Malabar 2026" between Japan, the United States, India and Australia kicked off in Japan today and will last until the 12th. It mainly conducts anti-submarine and anti-ship combat training in the Pacific waters south of Kanto to strengthen the coordinated combat capabilities of the four navies. It is worth noting that the Chinese Navy's "Liaoning" aircraft carrier strike group has been operating in the Philippine Sea recently, and the Communist Party of China has also launched large-scale maritime deployments in the Western Pacific. In addition, Japan and the United States and other countries only concluded the "Sharp Sword" joint military exercise at the end of last month. Recent frequent military activities in the Indo-Pacific waters also highlight the importance of strengthening maritime security cooperation between the United States, Japan and countries with similar concepts.
"Kyodo News" reported that the "Malabar" military exercise held an opening ceremony today at the Maritime Self-Defense Force Yokosuka Base, with approximately 200 military personnel from four countries attending. Japan Self-Defense Fleet Commander Koshi Omachi said that the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex, and it is more important than ever to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries.
Information released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force shows that the main purpose of this year's exercise is to improve the Maritime Self-Defense Force's tactical capabilities and strengthen the collaborative combat capabilities of naval and air forces from various countries. The exercise content includes anti-submarine warfare, surface ship operations, and ship formation photography.
Japan dispatched the helicopter frigate "Ise", the Mogami-class frigate "Mogami", submarines and P-1 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the US Navy sent a dock transport ship and a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the Indian Navy sent the frigate "Sahyadri", and Australia sent the frigate "Stuart" and the Air Force P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft.
Among them, the Indian Navy's "Sayadri" arrived at the Yokosuka base on the 4th. This Shivalik-class stealth frigate designed and built by India has a hull design that reduces radar detection characteristics. P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft from the United States and Australia will also use the Atsugi base in Japan to participate in the exercise mission.
The "Malabar" exercise was initially held by the U.S. and Indian navies. After Japan and Australia joined in, it has become an important military platform for cooperation among the four countries of Japan, the U.S., India, and Australia. The four countries are also members of the "Quad". In the context of China's continued expansion of maritime activities, joint exercises are used to enhance maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and joint operations capabilities, which has strategic significance for maintaining a "free and open Indo-Pacific region."
It is worth noting that this exercise comes immediately after the Japan-US "Sharp Sword 27" joint military exercise held from October 19th to 29th. The U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier "Theodore Roosevelt" was training together with warships from Japan, Australia, Canada and France in the Philippine Sea. China's "Liaoning" aircraft carrier strike group has been conducting its second Western Pacific training exercise this year since October 14. The activities of the two sides overlapped.
In the context of the continuous expansion of the scope of Chinese aircraft operations and the frequent cross-regional operations of naval and air forces, Japan, the United States, India, and Australia have strengthened anti-submarine and anti-ship combat training, which will help improve the four countries' joint response capabilities to surface and underwater threats.
