U.S., Indian and Japanese maritime forces to participate in exercise Malabar 2018

SANTA RITA, Guam – Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United
States will participate in exercise Malabar 2018, June 7 through 16 off the coast of Guam.

Malabar 2018 is the first time the exercise has been conducted off the coast of Guam, and the
latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to
address the variety of shared threats to maritime security.

Malabar began in 1992 and this year marks the 22nd rendition of the exercise. The exercise will
feature both ashore and at-sea training. While ashore in Guam, training will include subject
matter expert and professional exchanges on carrier strike group operations, maritime patrol and
reconnaissance operations, surface and anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage
control, helicopter operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

The at-sea portions will be conducted in the Philippine Sea and are designed to advance
participating nations’ military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical
operations in a multinational environment. Events planned during the at-sea portions include
liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks, a photo exercise, submarine familiarization,
high-value unit and air defense exercises, medical evacuation drills, surface warfare exercises,
communications exercises, search and rescue exercises; helicopter cross-deck evolutions,
underway replenishments, gunnery exercises, VBSS exercises and anti-submarine warfare.

Participants from the U.S. Navy in the at-sea phase of the exercise include the aircraft carrier
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam
(CG 54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer
USS Benfold (DDG 65) and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

Indian, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces have a common understanding and knowledge of a
shared working environment at sea. Each iteration of this exercise helps to advance the level of
understanding between the nations’ Sailors as members of Indo-Pacific nations, and the hope is
to be able to continue this process over time to strengthen bonds and personal relationships.

In addition to the U.S. Navy forces, three ships from the Indian Navy and three ships from the
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force will participate in the exercise. Please refer to the Japan
Maritime Staff Office for any further information about their forces. Please refer to the Indian
Navy Headquarters for any further information about their forces.