‘Malabar drills’ begin for the Indian, American, Japanese, and Australian navies

• The second phase of this year's Malabar naval drills in the Bay of Bengal has begun with India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
• The three-day exercise aims to build on the synergy, coordination, and interoperability that was established during the first phase, which took place in August.
• The first phase of the exercise took place from August 26 to 29 off the Pacific Ocean island of Guam.
• The Indian Navy is taking part in the second phase with the INS Ranvijay, INS Satpura, a submarine, and a P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
• The US Navy is represented by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson along with USS Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale. Japan is taking part with JS Kaga and JS Murasame and the Royal Australian Navy has sent HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Sirius for the drills.
• In 1992, India and the United States held an annual bilateral naval exercise known as the Malabar series.

Important facts 

About Indian Navy

• NAVY: Nautical Army of Volunteer Yeomen
• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.
• First admiral of India: Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji
• Chiefs of the tri-services and Defence Staff: General Bipin Rawat.
• Current naval chief: Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi