Quick answer: Exercise Malabar is the four-nation naval exercise of India, the United States, Japan and Australia. It is in the news because the Indian Navy frigate INS Sahyadri reached Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan on 4 November 2026 to take part in MALABAR 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Defence on 5 November 2026.
Why Exercise Malabar 2026 is in the news
According to a Ministry of Defence release issued through PIB on 5 November 2026, INS Sahyadri of the Eastern Fleet berthed at Yokosuka, Japan, on 4 November to join MALABAR 2026. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) received the ship. Vice Admiral Yagi Koji, Commandant of the Yokosuka District, and Shri R Madhu Sudan, Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission, attended the welcome.
The 2026 edition will open with a harbour phase of professional interactions and joint planning. A sea phase will follow, in which INS Sahyadri will operate with units of the US, Australian and Japanese navies. The ministry linked India’s participation to its MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Key facts about Exercise Malabar
- Participants in 2026: the navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia.
- Venue of 2026 edition: the exercise began at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.
- Indian ship: INS Sahyadri, an indigenous guided-missile stealth frigate. A 2023 PIB release describes it as the third ship of the Project-17 (Shivalik) class, built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai.
- Origin: Malabar started in 1992 as a bilateral India–US naval exercise. The first round was held on 28–29 May 1992 off the Malabar Coast, from which the exercise takes its name.
- Japan: took part in 2007 and later editions, and became a permanent member in 2015, according to the Ministry of Defence.
- Australia: first took part in 2007 along with Japan and Singapore. It returned in 2020, and since then all four Quad navies have taken part together.
- Rotation: the lead nation and the venue change each year. This lets the four navies train in both the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
Recent Malabar editions and hosts (2020–2026)
The table below is built only from official navy and PIB releases for each year. Edition numbers are given only where an official source states them.
| Year | Edition | Lead / host navy | Venue | Indian Navy units (as reported) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24th | India | Phase 1 off Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal (3–6 Nov); Phase 2 in the Arabian Sea (17–20 Nov) | Phase 2 built around carrier Vikramaditya; Australia rejoined |
| 2021 | 25th | United States | Phase I in the Western Pacific (Philippine Sea, after Guam); Phase II in the Bay of Bengal from 11 Oct | Shivalik, Kadmatt, P-8I (Phase I) |
| 2022 | 30th anniversary edition | Japan (JMSDF) | Yokosuka, Japan (8–15 Nov) | Shivalik, Kamorta, P-8I, MARCOS |
| 2023 | 27th | Australia (RAN) | At and off Sydney (11–21 Aug) | Sahyadri, Kolkata |
| 2024 | 28th | India | Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal (8–18 Oct) | Opening ceremony on board INS Satpura |
| 2025 | 29th | United States | In and around Guam (10–18 Nov) | Sahyadri |
| 2026 | — | Japan (venue) | Yokosuka, Japan (ship arrived 4 Nov) | Sahyadri |
What the navies practise at Malabar
Each edition has two parts. In harbour, crews visit each other’s ships, plan the sea serials together and agree on communication procedures. At sea, the ships and aircraft carry out drills across surface, air and underwater warfare. Recent editions have included anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, flying operations, replenishment at sea and live weapon firings. The 2020 edition, held in a “non-contact, at sea only” format because of COVID-19, featured dual-carrier operations by the Vikramaditya and Nimitz groups.
The main aim is interoperability, which means ships of four different navies can talk to each other, share a tactical picture and act as one task group when needed. For India, the exercise is also a way to deploy indigenous ships such as the Project-17 frigates far from home waters. INS Sahyadri has now represented India at three of the last four editions: Sydney in 2023, Guam in 2025 and Yokosuka in 2026.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Bilateral and multilateral exercises are a standard current-affairs area. Learn the pairs: Malabar (India, US, Japan, Australia), JIMEX/JAIMEX (India–Japan), AUSINDEX (India–Australia).
- Expect statement-type questions on when Japan became a permanent member (2015) and when Australia rejoined (2020).
- Ship-class questions are common. INS Sahyadri belongs to Project 17 (Shivalik class) frigates, built by Mazagon Dock.
- Map-based questions may ask where Yokosuka (Japan), Guam (US Pacific territory) and Visakhapatnam (Eastern Naval Command) are.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Exercise Malabar began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between which two navies?
(a) India and Japan (b) India and Australia (c) India and the United States (d) Japan and the United States
Answer: (c) — it started as an India–US exercise in 1992.
Q2. Where did INS Sahyadri arrive on 4 November 2026 for MALABAR 2026?
(a) Guam (b) Sydney (c) Visakhapatnam (d) Yokosuka
Answer: (d) — the frigate berthed at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.
Q3. In which year did the Royal Australian Navy return to Malabar, making it an exercise of all four Quad navies?
(a) 2015 (b) 2018 (c) 2020 (d) 2023
Answer: (c) — Australia rejoined in the 2020 edition hosted by India.
Q4. INS Sahyadri belongs to which class of Indian Navy warships?
(a) Kolkata class destroyer (b) Shivalik class (Project-17) frigate (c) Kamorta class corvette (d) Arnala class ASW craft
Answer: (b) — it is the third Project-17 multi-role stealth frigate.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries take part in Exercise Malabar 2026?
The navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia take part. India is represented by the stealth frigate INS Sahyadri.
Where is Malabar 2026 being held?
The exercise began at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. INS Sahyadri arrived there on 4 November 2026 for the harbour phase, which will be followed by a sea phase.
When did Japan become a permanent member of Malabar?
The Ministry of Defence states that the JMSDF joined Malabar as a permanent member in 2015.
Who hosted Malabar 2025?
The 29th edition in 2025 was led by the United States and held in and around Guam from 10 to 18 November 2025.
What is the purpose of the Malabar exercise?
It improves interoperability and coordination among the four navies through harbour planning and sea drills such as anti-submarine warfare, gunnery and flying operations.
Also read on NCA: INS Sahyadri in JAIMEX | Indian Navy’s three-continent exercises | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | CDS coaching in Chandigarh
Sources: PIB, Ministry of Defence (5 Nov 2026), PIB (Malabar 2023), PIB (Malabar 2021), Indian Navy (Malabar 2020), Indian Navy (Malabar 2022), PIB (Malabar 2024), US 7th Fleet, Baird Maritime, Wikipedia. Facts as reported up to 7 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): U.S Navy / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
