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The Indian Ministry of Defence has announced the start of the second phase of Exercise Malabar 2020 in the Northern Arabian Sea.
The second phase is taking place from 17 to 20 November 2020. It is the 24th edition of the MALABAR series of maritime exercises.
The first phase of Exercise Malabar 2020 took place in the Bay of Bengal, from 3 to 6 November.
This second phase involves participation from the US Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
This phase involves joint operations centred around the Indian Navy’s Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group and the US Navy’s Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
The two carriers and the other ships, submarine and aircraft from the other navies are also participating in the high intensity naval operations.
This phase includes cross-deck flying operations and advanced air defence exercises carried out by Vikramaditya’s MIG 29K fighters and Nimitz’s F-18 fighters and E2C Hawkeye.
Additionally, the group will carry out advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolutions and weapon firings, which are expected to boost inter-operability and synergy between the navies.
Other assets of the Indian Navy taking part are the indigenous destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, stealth frigate Talwar, Fleet Support Ship Deepak and integral helicopters.
Indigenously built submarine Khanderi and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft will also demonstrate the abilities.
Strike Carrier Nimitz is being joined by cruiser Princeton and destroyer Sterett, as well as P8A maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Frigate Ballarat and its integral helicopter represents the Royal Australian Navy.