Australia has joined India, Japan and the United States for Exercise Malabar, a leading Indo-Pacific maritime activity aimed at strengthening interoperability and coordination between regional partners.
RAN and RAAF Join Major Indo-Pacific Exercise
The Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat is taking part in the exercise in the west Pacific training area from 10–18 November.
The deployment also includes a RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will fly its missions from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
Strengthening Collective Security
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN, said that as regional security challenges evolve, joint exercises such as Malabar remain essential. “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.”
He added that the exercise’s advanced drills—including anti-submarine warfare, air defence and replenishment at sea—build critical trust, interoperability and operational readiness between the participating nations.
Long-Standing Multinational Cooperation
Exercise Malabar began in 1992 as a bilateral activity between India and the United States. It has since expanded to include Japan and Australia, with Australia hosting the 2023 iteration.
HMAS Ballarat’s Contribution
Commander Dean Uren, Commanding Officer HMAS Ballarat, said his crew is eager to operate alongside some of their most capable regional counterparts. “Our participation in Exercise Malabar forms part of our three-month Regional Presence Deployment from Australia, and is a fantastic opportunity to enhance interoperability with key Indo-Pacific partners.”
With a crew of 177 and an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, HMAS Ballarat provides a significant capability uplift to the exercise. “Training alongside regional partners ensures our people and platforms are ready to respond to any challenge and deter coercion in the Indo-Pacific,” Commander Uren said.
HMAS Ballarat Capabilities
HMAS Ballarat can conduct a wide spectrum of missions, including:
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air defence
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surface and undersea warfare
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surveillance and reconnaissance
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interdiction operations
The frigate is equipped with systems capable of countering simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.
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