India-US-Japan’s Malabar Naval Exercise concludes

The navies of the US, Japan and India undertook the exercise in rough seas and under challenging weather conditions.

The US, Japanese and Indian navies on Monday concluded the ‘Malabar Naval Exercise’ aimed at achieving deeper military ties between the three nations.

Indian Air Force's MIG-29K Fulcrum flies over US Navy ship Nimitz as part of the tri-nation Malabar 2017 exercise in Bay of Bengal near Chennai coast on Monday. (PTI)

The naval exercise featured 95 aircraft, 16 ships and two submarines, officials said in a statement.

Various maneuveres were undertaken in rough seas in the Bay of Bengal, they said.

The exercise, which began on July 10, comprised both on shore and offshore activities which included cross deck flying operations, refuelling across ships and crew handling procedures.

Indian naval ship INS Vikramaditya, foreground and Japan's helicopter carrier Izumo, behind participate in the Malabar 2017 tri-lateral exercises between India, Japan and US in the Bay of Bengal, Monday, July 17, 2017. (AP)

Under cross deck flying operations, a helicopter from USS ‘Shoup’ landed on-board Indian Naval Ship ‘Sahayadri’ and later on Japanese Naval ship ‘Sazanami’, the officials said.

A helicopter from ‘Sazanami’ then undertook flying operations from INS Sahayadri and USS Shoup.

“The cross deck flying operations require a high degree of interoperability and knowledge of procedures of participating in ships and helicopters”, they said.

The navies of the three countries undertook the exercise in rough seas and under challenging weather conditions.

Indian Air Force's MIG-29K Fulcrum flies over US Navy ship Nimitz as part of the tri-nation Malabar 2017 exercise in Bay of Bengal near Chennai coast on Monday. (PTI)

Under the crew exchange programme, an Indian Navy helicopter transferred Japanese sailors to Naval ship Vikramaditya in the Bay of Bengal. This was followed by flying operations by helicopters of US Navy ships.

On Sunday, Indian Navy ship Jyoti transferred oil with US ‘Shoup’ and Japanese naval ship ‘Sazanami’ under the replenishment at sea exercise.

“During the operation, INS Jyoti passed the oil hoses to the US and Japanese Navies to exercise transfer of fuel,” the officials said.

Ships during the sea phase of tri-Nation Malabar 2017 Exercise comprising India, Japan and US navies, in Bay of Bengal near Chennai coast on Monday. (PTI)

On combined crew training exercise, MiG 29K fighter air craft from INS Vikramaditya undertook combat missions against US Navy F-18 fighter aircraft launched from USS Nimitz.

Aircraft from both Indian and US Navies undertook composite formation flying, demonstrating another step in the interoperability aimed through this exercise, the statement added.