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Foreword

Northeast Asia Engagement ::

People's Republic of China and U.S. Forces Enhancing Maritime Safety Throughout the Asia-Pacific Region

Proliferation Security Initiative Activities Attract International Interest

Cooperative Understanding ::

Cambodia-U.S. Navies Conduct Historic Exchange

Regional Response Forces ::

Indian, Canadian and U.S. Forces Partner for a Safer Asia-Pacific Region

RIMPAC 2006:
Fostering Regional Peace and Security

Philippine-U.S. Forces Building Interoperability and Goodwill

Happenings  ::

Happenings

Indian, Canadian and U.S. Forces Partner For A Safer Asia-Pacific Region
Compiled by Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM Staff

Compiled by Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM staff from press releases by PO1 Michael E. Miller Jr., USN, assigned to CTF 76 Public Affairs; and U.S. Navy SN Brian Gaines, SN Joshua Martin, Mr. Derek Sanchez, and SN James Seward assigned to USS Boxer Public Affairs.

The Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, the Indian Army, the Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard participated in Exercise MALABAR 2006 – the eighth in the series – off the coast of India. The Canadian Navy participated for the first time as part of the USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG). The exercise focused on strengthening ties between the three forces, increasing interoperability, and enhancing their cooperative security relationship, as they worked together to fight terrorism, respond to natural disasters, and combat nuclear proliferation.

Exercise events included force protection drills; visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS); formation steaming; coordinated surface-fire support; amphibious landing; live-fire events; torpedo-firing events; and anti-submarine warfare training.

The October-November 2006 exercise involved 13 naval ships from the three nations. These included the Indian Navy guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore (D 60), the Indian Coast Guard cutter Samar, and the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), which led the BOXESG. The Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341), the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Midgett (WHEC 726), and the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) were part of the BOXESG.

The first of the three-phased exercise focused on integration. Indian soldiers and U.S. Marines trained together aboard USS Boxer. Sailors from the three nations trained in various weapons and live-fire exercises.

During the second phase, the BOXESG pulled into several Indian ports, including Mumbai and Goa. The stops offered BOXESG a chance to experience Indian culture, re-supply, and support a Habitat for Humanity project. The visits also gave leaders a chance to discuss future MALABAR exercises and interoperability between the three nations’ armed forces.

MALABAR 2006 concluded with a “War-at-Sea” phase, which split the forces into two international blue and gold teams. The blue team simulated a friendly force providing aid to a disaster-stricken nation, while the gold team simulated an attacking enemy force.

Opening Ceremony
During the opening ceremony aboard the USS Boxer, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt noted two reasons for the exercise. “The most basic reason is that India, Canada, and the United States share fundamental values. Our militaries protect our ways of life, our democratic freedoms, our rule of law, and our respect for the dignity of each individual. The second reason is that, in an interconnected world, no one country’s military can accomplish its job alone. We need each other to protect our citizens, now more than ever. And that is what joint exercises are about.”

Chargé Pyatt further noted, “The United States and Canada share a longstanding relationship ... We are also fighting together in India’s neighborhood to defeat the Taliban and help cement Afghan democracy. The United States and India are building a partnership of similar breadth and importance.”

Commenting on Indian and U.S. military cooperation, Chargé Pyatt said, “This week’s joint exercises are just one part of a defense relationship that supports our common strategic and security interests. Besides maritime security, our countries work together to fight terrorism, respond to natural disasters, and combat nuclear proliferation. Our two navies are playing a leading role in building our strategic partnership. The interoperability demonstrated in our joint response to the [December 2004] tsunami [that struck India and other Southeast Asia nations] is a striking example of this importance.”

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Aboard the USS Boxer at sea, Indian Navy and U.S. Navy EOD teams jumped from a U.S. Navy SH-60 Knighthawk helicopter into the Indian Ocean to dispose of a mock mine. The helicopter made several passes over the mine so teams could practice jumping out of a helicopter as well as mine detonation.

The training mission gave the EOD teams a chance to work closely, strengthen ties, and help ensure that in future operations, they will be able to work effectively together. “Everything ran smoothly between the two teams,” said U.S. Navy PO1 Jason Null.

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