US, Japan, India and Australia Launch Major Naval Drills

The United States, Japan, India and Australia have launched the Malabar 2026 naval exercise off Japan's Pacific coast, bringing together warships, submarines and maritime patrol aircraft for a series of coordinated military operations.

The exercise began on November 5 and is scheduled to continue through November 12 in waters south of Japan's Kanto region.

According to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, the drills will focus on anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and tactical coordination among the four participating navies.

Japan is deploying the helicopter destroyer JS Ise, the Mogami-class frigate JS Mogami, a submarine and a P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.

The United States is participating with an amphibious transport dock and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

India has deployed its indigenously built guided-missile stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, which arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base on November 4.

Australia is contributing the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Stuart and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

The exercise includes a harbour phase focused on operational planning and professional exchanges, followed by maritime drills designed to improve interoperability between participating forces.

The four countries are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, which promotes cooperation on security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

Although Malabar is a longstanding multinational naval exercise, its latest edition comes amid persistent maritime tensions involving China in the East and South China Seas.

Japanese and Indian defense officials said the exercise aims to strengthen military coordination and support a free and open Indo-Pacific.