Aircraft carriers of US Navy, Indian Navy, and JMSDF helicoper carrier close Exercise Malabar with trilateral maneuvers in the Bay of Bengal

#USNavy, @IndianNavy, and #JMSDF close out Exercise #Malabar with trilateral maneuvers in the Bay of Bengal pic.twitter.com/HGEVjCRpIc

— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) July 19, 2017

Malabar 2017 exercise in Bay of Bengal, IndianNavy MIG-29K Fulcrums fly over USS Nimitz

#Malabar2017 'Eye in the Sky' - E2C Hawkeye- a force multiplier, accounts 4 everything under the Sun- literally @USAndIndia @USPacificFleet pic.twitter.com/C79xt8zTvR

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 16, 2017

#Malabar2017 Perfect Tail Hooking by F-18 SuperHornet on '1of 4' arrestor wires on flt deck of USS Nimitz ( @USNavy operates 4 versions) pic.twitter.com/GF7gjus8Of

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 15, 2017

Malabar 2017 - Indian, US and Japanese Navies

#Malabar2017 USS Nimitz, nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier of US Navy anchored off Chennai for Ex Malabar. pic.twitter.com/wDKRQ2jJsM

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 12, 2017

#Malabar2017 USS Nimitz, nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier of US Navy anchored off Chennai for Ex Malabar. pic.twitter.com/wDKRQ2jJsM

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 12, 2017

Japanese Navy launches new minesweeper made of composites

Ambassadors of US, Japan to India take a close look at Malabar 2015 from USS Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassadors of US, Japan to India & Sr IN officials 2day had a close look at #Malabar2015 frm #USSTheodoreRoosevelt pic.twitter.com/yC6kJBdQEX

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 18, 2015

Flight Deck Management... can't get simpler than this. On board #USSTheodoreRoosevelt @USAmbIndia #Malabar2015 pic.twitter.com/GY1bqNqFMw

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 18, 2015

Indian, Japanese and US Navy officers all set for USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) presentation

All together! #IndianNavy & #JapanNavy officers all set for @USSFortWorth (LCS 3) presentation. #Malabar2015 pic.twitter.com/l2fQETa5Ak

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) October 16, 2015

#USSFortWorth completes harbor phase of exercise #Malabar2015 in #India http://t.co/YIqeujjsOe pic.twitter.com/roTataO1Ie

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 16, 2015

 The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) completed the harbor phase of exercise Malabar in Chennai, India, Oct. 15.

Malabar 2015 is a complex, high-end warfighting exercise that has grown in scope and complexity over the years and is the latest in a continuing series conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues.

During the harbor phase in Chennai, the Fort Worth crew participated in subject matter expert and professional exchanges on maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, surface and anti-submarine warfare, medical operations, damage control, helicopter operations and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

"The harbor phase training was quite beneficial to the crew," said Cmdr. Christopher Brown, commanding officer of Fort Worth. "This is the first time the crew of Fort Worth has had the opportunity to work and train with members of the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and what we were able to learn from each other will go a long way towards advancing our interoperability."

Included during the harbor phase was a tour of the Fort Worth for sailors from the India Navy and JMSDF. During the tour, the sailors were given a presentation by sailors assigned to Helicopter Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, Detachment 3 on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system and were briefed on the capabilities of Fort Worth.

2015 marks the first time that a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship has participated in Malabar and will be the first time one has operated in the Indian Ocean, which will occur during the sea phase portion of Malabar.

"We are looking forward to getting to sea and participating in a number of complex surface warfare exercises," said Brown. "This is the first time a littoral combat ship has participated in Malabar and the sea phase provides a unique opportunity for Fort Worth to operate hull-to-hull with ships from the Indian navy and JMSDF."

Fort Worth will participate in a number of events during the sea phase of Malabar, including liaison officer professional exchanges and embarks; photo exercise; submarine familiarization, high-value unit defense; air and mine defense exercises; surface warfare, communications, gunnery, search and rescue and VBSS exercises; medevac; helicopter cross-deck evolutions; underway replenishments; and anti-submarine warfare. 

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Philippines, Japan Hold Naval Drills in South China Sea

The Philippines and Japan, which each have bitter maritime disputes with China, have conducted their first ever bilateral naval exercises.The day-long drills Tuesday in the South China Sea involved two Japanese destroyers and a Philippine Navy frigate, according to Manila.

Philippines officials insisted the drills were not meant to send a message to China, but were instead focused on improving military capabilities."This is for safety purposes, just to avoid encounters at sea, unusual incidents," Philippine Navy chief Jesus Millan told.

But China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chungying on Tuesday made it clear that Beijing remained concerned with the drills."We have noticed the relevant report and will pay close attention to it. As you can see, at present the overall situation of South China Sea is stable. We hope the relevant country can respect the efforts and willingness of the regional countries who are protecting the peace and stability in the region by themselves, do not hype up the tension everywhere and do not take actions that could harm the security and mutual trust among the regional countries and actions that could affect regional peace and stability," she said.

Hua also accused Manila of "repeatedly" violating international laws and "stirring up" tensions. "The evidence has proved again that the Philippines is truly a rule breaker and the trouble maker," she said.

Scarborough Shoal

Philippines officials told local media that Tuesday's drills would be held within the Philippine's 44-kilometer contiguous zone, near Corregidor Island, where there is no territorial dispute with China.

About 300 kilometers to the west lies the reefs, rocks, and rich fishing grounds of Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by Manila and Beijing. Following a 2012 standoff, China seized the strategic shoal and has prevented Philippine fishing boats from reaching the area.