Visakhapatnam: The “Quad” countries, which is an informal security group comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, are all set for annual naval drill Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal beginning Tuesday.

The 24th edition of the Malabar naval exercise is scheduled in two phases in November 2020.

However, the first phase of the exercise would witness complex and advanced naval exercises including surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations, cross deck flying, seamanship evolutions and weapon firing exercises, an official release said here.

The Phase 1 will witness the participation of Indian Navy warships with United States’ guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain, Australia’s long-range frigate with integral MH-60 helicopter HMAS Ballarat, and Japan’s destroyer with integral SH-60 helicopter JS Onami.

The Malabar series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as a bilateral IN-USN exercise and the JMSDF joined the drill in 2015.

The 2020 edition will now witness participation of the Australian Navy in this joint maritime exercise.

The Indian Navy participation in phase 1 will be led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, flag officer cmmanding of the Eastern Fleet. Indian Navy units participating in the exercise include destroyer Ranvijay, frigate Shivalik, offshore patrol vessel Sukanya, fleet support ship Shakti and submarine Sindhuraj.

In addition, advanced jet trainer Hawk, long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, maritime patrol aircraft Dornier, and helicopters will also participate in the exercise.

The exercise, being conducted as a “non-contact, at sea only” exercise in view of Covid-19 pandemic, will showcase the high-levels of synergy and coordination between the friendly navies, which is based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

Phase 2 of Malabar 2020 is scheduled to be conducted in the Arabian Sea in mid-November 2020.