Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat is taking part in Exercise Malabar in the Indo-Pacific alongside assets from India, Japan and the United States.
The 118-metre warship, which was commissioned in 2004, operates out of Fleet Base West in Perth and has been taking part in this year’s Exercise Malabar, which started on Monday and runs until next Tuesday in the west Pacific training area.
The frigate, which boasts a crew of 177 and an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, is participating as an element of her wider ongoing three-month Regional Presence Deployment. She is designed for a variety of roles including air defence, surface and undersea warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
As per a Defence Australia press statement, the joint manoeuvres represent “a key Indo-Pacific maritime activity designed to deepen interoperability between regional partners.”
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft operating out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is also taking part in the eight-day programme of activities.
RAN Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones commented: “Through Exercise Malabar, Australia and partner nations are strengthening Indo-Pacific security by tackling shared challenges, coordinating collective strength and closing gaps in global engagement.
“Through complex drills in anti-submarine warfare, air defence and replenishment at sea, participating nations build the trust, interoperability and readiness needed to respond to our collective security challenges.”
Exercise Malabar originated as an annual bilateral training activity between India and the U.S. in 1992; Australia hosted the 2023 iteration.
Among the Indian naval assets taking part is its guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri; the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) is contributing helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga.
- You can read more details on the Defence Australia website and the Indian Ministry of Defence website