The Significance of Joint Naval Exercises
Joint Naval Exercises are vital for improving cooperation and interoperability among the navies of different countries. The Indian Navy, for instance, conducts multiple Joint Naval Exercises with various nations annually. Below is a table detailing some of the Joint Naval Exercises that India has been a part of.
| Naval Exercise Name |
Participating Nations |
| Malabar Exercise |
India, USA, and Japan are permanent members, with occasional participation from Australia, Singapore, and others. The exercise started in 1992 and is typically held in the Bay of Bengal or near Japan. The most recent exercise took place in the Philippines Sea in 2019. |
| INDRA Exercise |
This bi-annual bilateral exercise involves India and Russia and was first held in 2003. |
| Varuna Exercise |
India and France participate in this annual exercise, typically held in the Indian Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. The most recent exercise was conducted off the coast of Goa in 2019. |
| Milan Exercise |
This biennial multilateral event began in 1995 and usually takes place in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The last exercise in 2018 saw participation from 16 countries. |
| IBSAMAR |
A maritime exercise involving India, South Africa, and Brazil. |
| SIMBEX |
India and Singapore have been conducting this exercise annually since 1994. |
| SLINEX |
India and Sri Lanka first conducted this exercise in 2004. |
Who Participated in the 23rd Maritime Malabar Exercise in 2019?
The 23rd edition of the Maritime Malabar Exercise saw participation from India, Japan, and the USA. The exercise was conducted off the coast of Sasebo, Japan. The table below lists the participating countries and the respective ships/aircrafts they contributed to the exercise.
| Country |
Participating Ships/Aircrafts |
| India |
INS Sahyadri (Frigate), INS Kiltan (ASW Corvette), and P-8I (Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Patrol Aircraft). |
| USA |
USS Campbell (Submarine) and P8A (Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft). |
| Japan |
JS Kaga (Helicopter Destroyer), JS Samidare (Missile Destroyer), and Choukai and P1 (Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft). |
What is RIMPAC?
RIMPAC, or the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. Conducted biennially from Honolulu, Hawaii, it is hosted by the US Navy's Indo-Pacific Command. The first RIMPAC exercise was conducted in 1971. The most recent exercise, held in 2018, involved navies from 28 different countries, including India's INS Sahyadri. The Chilean Navy led the exercise, while the Chinese Navy chose to disinvite itself.
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