The 28th edition of the annual Malabar Naval Exercise will take place in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) this October. The exercise, hosted by India, brings together the navies of the Quad countries—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. These forces will engage in advanced drills focusing on anti-submarine warfare, interoperability, and enhancing regional security.
The event is particularly notable this year due to the inclusion of Russian-made frigates alongside the U.S. Navy’s iconic USS Nimitz, demonstrating the diverse mix of military technology and strategic partnerships at play. With tensions rising in the Indo-Pacific, the exercise is set against the backdrop of growing Chinese naval activities in the region, making it more critical than ever.
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal sits atop key sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) that connect China, Japan, and Korea with the Middle East and Africa. These maritime routes are vital, carrying nearly half of the world’s trade and energy supplies, making the region a global economic artery. Control and stability in these waters are essential for international commerce and the energy security of countries dependent on these routes.
For the United States and its allies, maintaining a “Free, Open, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific” is essential to counter China’s increasingly assertive posture in the region. The Indo-Pacific has been a focal point of the U.S. military strategy, seeking to balance power and ensure unfettered access to the region’s maritime routes.
Quad’s Naval Might on Display
This year’s Malabar Exercise will see a powerful array of naval assets from the four Quad nations, reflecting their increasing coordination and growing defense ties. The Indian Navy will field its INS Vikramaditya, the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been revamped to become India’s flagship carrier. Alongside this, India’s P-8I Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, deck-based MiG-29K fighter jets, and Russian-built Talwar-class frigates will join the fray. Additionally, India’s indigenously built Kalvari-class submarines will bolster the exercise’s focus on anti-submarine warfare.
The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, is expected to deploy one of its formidable Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. Accompanying this will be destroyers and submarines, forming a potent strike group. The Nimitz will carry F/A-18 Super Hornets and E-2 Hawkeye early-warning aircraft, both of which are essential for multi-role operations, including air defense and anti-submarine warfare.
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will likely contribute one of its Izumo-class helicopter carriers, recently modified to accommodate F-35B fighter jets, further expanding its capabilities. The JMSDF’s Aegis-equipped destroyers, such as the Maya-class vessels, are also expected to join, underscoring Japan’s growing commitment to regional security, particularly in missile defense and anti-aircraft warfare.
Australia’s Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will also play a critical role. The RAN will likely deploy its Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates, both of which are equipped with the Aegis Combat System, providing strong air and missile defense capabilities. Additionally, Australia is expected to send its Collins-class submarines, and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, which will assist in reconnaissance and surveillance missions, heightening the exercise’s anti-submarine focus.
Chinese Influence in Indian Ocean Region
The Malabar Exercise comes at a time of heightened activity by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Over the last decade, China has significantly expanded its naval reach, establishing bases and developing relationships with littoral nations in the region. One of the most notable recent developments has been China’s role in assisting Bangladesh to develop a submarine base for Chinese-supplied submarines, reflecting its broader ambitions to project power into the IOR.
India and its Quad partners view these developments with growing concern. The IOR is India’s strategic backyard, and China’s increasing presence, including frequent submarine patrols, has forced India to reassess its maritime strategies. The PLAN is now the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of hulls, with over 370 ships, compared to the United States’ 291 vessels. As China’s submarine fleet is projected to grow to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035, India is faced with a growing underwater threat in its own region.
India’s Anti-Submarine Capabilities
For India, the Malabar Exercise is more than just a show of force—it’s a platform to enhance its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. India operates 12 Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft, among the most advanced ASW and maritime patrol aircraft globally. In fact, India was the first export customer for the U.S.-manufactured P-8, highlighting the deepening military ties between New Delhi and Washington.
However, despite this close cooperation, trust issues between India and the U.S. persist. Indian Navy veterans have pointed out that, although India operates the P-8s, it is not part of the P-8 sonobuoy data-sharing agreement between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. This is seen as a barrier to achieving full interoperability between the Indian and U.S. navies. While progress has been made, experts believe that genuine interoperability is still at least a decade away.
That said, the U.S. is committed to bolstering India’s ASW capabilities. Recent reports indicate that the U.S. is prepared to sell advanced sonobuoys to India. These high-altitude sonobuoys, designed for deployment from P-8I Poseidons and MH-60R Seahawks, would significantly enhance India’s ability to detect and track enemy submarines in the region. The sale of these sonobuoys would complement India’s acquisition of MQ-9 Sea Guardian drones, which will further extend India’s maritime surveillance and ASW reach.
Building Trust Among Quad Navies
The Malabar Exercise has evolved significantly since its inception as a bilateral exercise between India and the U.S. in 1992. Japan became a permanent member in 2015, and Australia joined in 2020, cementing the exercise as a key pillar of the Quad’s defense cooperation. Over the years, the scope of Malabar has expanded to include complex maneuvers, from anti-piracy drills to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, and now, anti-submarine warfare.
Nevertheless, deepening trust remains a challenge, particularly between India and the U.S. As the two largest democracies, their interests align in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific, but historical suspicions linger. Indian naval officers point out that while the U.S. has been keen to present itself as India’s primary training partner, real operational cooperation is still in its infancy.
The recent decision by the U.S. to allow the sale of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to India is a positive step in building this trust. These helicopters are equipped for both ASW and anti-surface warfare and will allow Indian naval battle groups to expand their operational reach. Capable of operating at altitudes of 20,000 feet, the Seahawks carry lightweight torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles, and advanced sensors, enhancing India’s ability to detect and neutralize underwater threats.
Chinese Naval Expansion
While the Malabar Exercise focuses on interoperability and enhancing regional stability, it is clear that the underlying message is directed at Beijing. China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean, combined with its increasingly aggressive posturing in the South China Sea and East China Sea, has rattled India and its Quad partners.
As the PLAN continues to expand, Beijing’s submarine force will be a particular point of concern. China’s submarines, equipped with advanced missile capabilities, are capable of operating in the IOR, putting India’s coastlines and strategic maritime assets at risk. The frequency of PLAN submarine visits to the region has risen, underscoring the need for robust ASW capabilities among Quad members.
The Malabar Exercise’s focus on ASW drills is a direct response to this challenge. With the combined expertise of the U.S., Indian, Japanese, and Australian navies, the exercise aims to hone the skills necessary to detect and track hostile submarines, ensuring that the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace and stability.
The 2024 Malabar Naval Exercise in the Bay of Bengal will be a critical test of the Quad’s ability to counter the growing Chinese naval threat in the Indo-Pacific. By bringing together state-of-the-art carriers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft from the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, the exercise will enhance cooperation, build trust, and ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains open, free, and secure.
With China’s navy rapidly expanding and projecting power further into the Indian Ocean, exercises like Malabar are not just routine drills—they are vital demonstrations of the Quad’s commitment to preserving maritime security and stability in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.
