INS Sahyadri joins Japan, US and Australia navies for Malabar 2026 drills off Honshu
Japan has deployed the helicopter destroyer JS Ise and frigate JS Mogami, while Australia sent HMAS Stuart and a P-8A patrol aircraft.
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Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Sahyadri has joined warships from Japan, the United States and Australia for Malabar 2026, which runs from 5 to 12 November south of the Kanto region off Honshu, Japan. It reached Yokosuka Naval Base on Wednesday, and the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday it would take part in both the harbour and sea phases.
What happened at Malabar 2026 so far
INS Sahyadri, a frigate of the Eastern Fleet, came to Japan straight from a bilateral exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy at Busan, IANS reported. At Yokosuka it was received by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Vice Admiral Yagi Koji, Commandant of the Yokosuka District, and R Madhu Sudan, Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission, attended the welcome.
Planning comes first. Officers spend the harbour phase on professional exchanges and joint planning, and then INS Sahyadri sails with the other three navies for the sea phase.
On Friday the frigate hosted a deck reception at Yokosuka to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Japan, IANS reported. It is also visiting for a bilateral Japan-India maritime exercise.
Who is taking part
- Japan: helicopter destroyer JS Ise, frigate JS Mogami, a submarine and a P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (JMSDF announcement).
- India: frigate INS Sahyadri (F49).
- United States: an amphibious transport dock (LPD) and a P-8A patrol aircraft.
- Australia: frigate HMAS Stuart and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon.
Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and a photo exercise are on the programme, according to the JMSDF.
Background: The Quad navies and exercise Malabar
Malabar brings together the navies of the four Quad countries every year. Last year’s edition ran from 10 to 18 November with its harbour phase in Guam, and INS Sahyadri took part in that one too. Japan describes the aim of the drills as realising a free and open Indo-Pacific and sharpening tactical skills.
According to the ministry, the exercise lets the four forces “enhance operational coordination, strengthen interoperability and exchange professional expertise”. It linked India’s participation to MAHASAGAR, the government’s maritime policy for the region.
What people said
“The harbour phase will include professional interactions and coordinated planning, followed by the sea phase involving INS Sahyadri and participating units of the United States, Australia and Japan,” the Ministry of Defence said in its statement.
What happens next
Malabar 2026 ends on 12 November. During the same visit INS Sahyadri is due to take part in the bilateral exercise with Japan. More defence and diplomacy coverage is in our World Affairs section and on the India page.
Malabar is the main naval drill of the four Quad countries, and this edition puts their ships through anti-submarine and anti-surface drills close to Japan. For the Indian Navy, one frigate moving from Korea to Japan on the same Pacific deployment shows how routinely it now operates far to the east.