Exercise Malabar 2025 | 10 Nov 2025

Why in News? 

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, Northern Pacific, to participate in the multilateral naval exercise Malabar 2025.

Key Points

• Exercise Malabar:
  • It is a multilateral naval drill involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia under the QUAD framework.
  • Aims to enhance joint maritime coordination, interoperability, and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Participation of INS Sahyadri reflects India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push and naval self-reliance.
  • 2025 Venue-Guam: The choice of Guam underlines India’s growing engagement in the Pacific and alignment with Quad’s strategic goals.
    • Guam is an unincorporated U.S. territory in the Western Pacific Ocean, located between the Philippines and Hawaii.
    • It hosts key American military bases such as Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam, making it a strategic hub for Indo-Pacific security operations.
      

• INS Sahyadri:
  • It is a Shivalik-class (Project 17) guided missile stealth frigate, commissioned in 2012 as part of India’s first stealth frigate series.
  • Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, it was designed for multi-role operations including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.