US, India, Japan conduct naval exercise
(VOVWORLD) - Naval exercises involving warships and aircraft from the United States, Japan and India got underway off the coast of Sasebo, Japan, on Wednesday.
Exercise Malabar is an annual 10-day exercise aimed at addressing shared threats and improving relations between the participating countries. Malabar focuses on sophisticated battle maneuvers, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, surface and antisubmarine warfare, helicopter operations and more, according the statement. The U.S. Navy sent the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell from Yokosuka, the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay from Sasebo and an unnamed Los Angeles-class nuclear fast attack submarine from Submarine Group 7. Japan sent the JMSDF helicopter carrier JS Kaga, the destroyer Samidare and the cruiser Chokai. The Indian Navy sent its stealth frigate INS Sahyadari, as well as antisubmarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan and Posedion-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
Malabar began in 1992 with the U.S. and India. Japan became a permanent partner in the exercise in 2015.