INS Sahyadri joins Quad navies as exercise Malabar 2026 begins at Yokosuka

Naval officials from Quad nations. (Photo: Indian Navy)

New Delhi: Exercise Malabar 2026 got under way at Yokosuka, Japan, on November 5, with an opening ceremony hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).

Vice Admiral AN Pramod, deputy chief of the naval staff of the Indian Navy, attended along with senior naval leaders from Australia, Japan and the United States.

India is represented by INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth frigate of the Eastern Fleet. The ship arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base on November 4, after taking part in a bilateral exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy at Busan. Vice Admiral Yagi Koji, commandant of the Yokosuka District, welcomed the crew.

The exercise aims to improve interoperability and operational coordination among the four navies. Australia is sending the frigate HMAS Stuart and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The drills are to include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and a joint sail photo exercise. The Ministry of Defence said Sahyadri will take part in both the harbour and sea phases.

The ministry described the deployment as part of India's effort to build maritime partnerships with like-minded navies, in line with the MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Sahyadri is no stranger to the exercise. In the 2025 edition at Guam, it took part in the sea phase from November 13 to 17, covering anti-submarine warfare, visit, board, search and seizure drills, gunnery firing, underway replenishment and cross-deck helicopter operations.

The frigate’s Japan visit also includes the bilateral India-Japan Maritime Exercise (Jaimex-2026). The Indian Embassy in Japan has said the visit coincides with 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Malabar began in 1992 as a bilateral drill between India and the US. Japan became a permanent participant in 2015, and Australia rejoined in 2020, making it the naval face of the Quad grouping.