Quad navies to deploy advanced warships for Malabar Exercise in Bay of Bengal

The Quad nations–India, the US, Japan, and Australia–are set to showcase state-of-the-art naval defence mechanisms in the upcoming Malabar Naval Exercise in the Bay of Bengal. The Quad Summit held in the United States, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expanded joint maritime security measures in Indo-Pacific waters.
India will host the 28th edition of the annual Malabar Naval Exercise in October.
The Quad nations will display their cutting-edge warships and naval assets, marking a significant exhibition of maritime cooperation and power projection in the Indo-Pacific region, according to officials.
The Malabar Exercise, originally a bilateral drill between India and the US, has evolved into one of the premier multilateral naval exercises aimed at enhancing operational coordination, information sharing, and naval interoperability among the Quad members.
The exercise began in 1992 along the Malabar Coast, the southern part of India’s west coast, as a bilateral initiative between India and the United States. It expanded in 2007 to include Japan and Australia, with Japan becoming a permanent partner in 2015. Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020, marking the Quad’s joint participation in military drills.
This year’s exercise particularly focusses on countering the growing maritime challenges posed by China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific waters.
Each of the Quad nations will deploy some of their most advanced warships, submarines, and naval aircraft, signalling their joint commitment to maintaining maritime security.
The Malabar Exercise aims to enhance the Quad’s collective maritime capabilities, focusing on joint tactical manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and amphibious operations. These coordinated drills demonstrate the resolve of the Quad nations to uphold a free, open, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s expanding naval presence poses significant challenges.
With China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and its increasing influence in the Indian Ocean through military bases and port deals, the Quad’s response via the Malabar Exercise is a crucial demonstration of its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region. The drills will further strengthen intelligence sharing and defence collaboration, contributing to greater security across key global trade routes.
India’s hosting of the Malabar Exercise underscores its pivotal role in the Quad’s maritime security framework. As the region’s leading naval force, the Indian Navy continues to expand its capabilities and influence in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise not only enhances India’s strategic military partnerships with fellow Quad members but also underscores its importance as a counterweight to China’s growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean.
The upcoming Malabar Naval Exercise is viewed as a critical milestone in deepening the Quad’s defence ties, as the navies of the US, India, Japan, and Australia unite to address the shared maritime challenges of the Indo-Pacific region.