Navy photograph by PO3 Kenneth Rodriguez

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Jarrett Hopkins, from Houston, directs an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Golden Hawks of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 on USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) flight deck during Malabar 2016. A trilateral maritime exercise, Malabar is designed to enhance dynamic cooperation between the Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

SASEBO, Japan–Ships from the Indian navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy departed U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo to conduct the at-sea phase of Exercise Malabar 2016, June 14.

A trilateral maritime exercise, Malabar is designed to enhance dynamic cooperation between Indian navy, JMSDF and U.S. Navy in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

The exercise allows for practical training while exchanging skills and cultures, and helps to increase the understanding of multinational operations.

“At its core, originally, Exercise Malabar was started [in 1992] as a bilateral exercise between the Indian navy and the U.S.,” said Capt. Jason Gilbert, U.S. naval attache to India. “The Japanese became a permanent partner in 2015, and we are now starting to see the benefits of Malabar being a trilateral exercise.”

Ships will spend the at-sea phase of Malabar in the Philippine Sea to advance the participating nations’ military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.

Navy photograph by PO1 Charles E. White

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician controls a SeaBotix remotely operated vehicle during a mine countermeasures training mission near Sasebo as part of exercise Malabar 2016.

“It’s great to see the details and planning from the harbor phase [of Malabar] come to fruition at sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brent Jackson, executive officer, guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53). “It’s amazing to see thousands of tons of steel come together on the water and operate as seamlessly as we had planned.”

Malabar 2016 builds on progress made during previous exercises, improving participating nations’ abilities to conduct joint operations, and improve trilateral coordination and capacity.

“We have a variety of exercises planned for the at-sea phase of Malabar,” said Gilbert. “We are doing the full spectrum of things that you can possibly do at sea in a short period of time. The more we can understand how each nation works together translates into easier facilitation of operations in the future.”

Navy photograph by PO2 Ryan J. Batchelder

Rear Adm. Koji Manabe, commander, Escort Flotilla Three, coordinates shipboard events with Capt. Sean McLaren, commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), at a pre-sail conference aboard the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) during Malabar 2016.

Areas of proficiency that will be exercised include surface events; visit, board, search, and seizure exercises; subject matter and professional exchanges; maritime patrol and reconnaissance scenarios; and anti-submarine warfare operations.

“Mobile Bay is out here to be a strong partner in supporting our allies in the exercises’ upcoming operations,” said Jackson. “Both during the harbor phase, and now at sea, we are part of a much larger team and we look forward to executing our mission together as professionals.”

Jackson added that three nations coming together to conduct complex, multinational operations and maintaining presence helps to preserve peace and stability in the region and further enhances maritime partnerships between allied nations.

“Interoperability is crucial, because if we ever have to work together in a real-world scenario, we will have had the necessary training and preparation to the point where our operations become second nature,” said Gilbert. “Working together is what Malabar is all about.”
 

Navy photograph by PO1 Charles E. Ryan

A U.S. Navy Sailor, right, assigned to Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit One and a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) EOD technician prepare to release a MK18 Mod. 1 unmanned underwater vehicle during exercise Malabar 2016.

Navy photograph by PO1 David R. Krigbaum

Guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) moored at Commander, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo. Both ships are in Sasebo for Malabar 2016.