'Indo-US Malabar exercise has been very beneficial'

Mumbai, Oct 31 (UNI) The annual Indo-American bilateral exercise ''Malabar'', that was started in 1994, has helped both navies to forge interoperability and combined operating procedure, according to Flag Officer Commanding in chief, Western Naval Command Rear Admiral Anup Singh.

The ninth in the series of the ''Malabar'' exercise is currently underway having begun on October 24 off the coast of Goa. The ''Malabar 2006'' will terminate on November 5.

Talking to reporters, Rear Admiral Singh informed that the exercise, started in 1994, continued till 1998 and then resumed in 2002. The annual exercise with the US Navy has proved extremely beneficial for both navies to forge interoperability and combined operating procedure, he said.

Commanding officer USS Howard Commander James Morgan, Commander CO USS Benfold Mark Haris, CO INS Beas, Captain Samir Advani, and CO INS Mysore Captain Vimal Kumar Verma were also present during the press conference.

''Our mutual confidence in combined operations now encompass advanced manoeuvres at sea, air and underwater and from land which is indicative of the high levels of interoperability and commonality of procedure that has been achieved by both navies in combined operations,'' the Rear Adm added.

''Malabar 06'' also has a social and sports interaction between the two navies that are scheduled during their stopover at Mumbai and Goa. Task force Malabar comprises a total of twelve warships including two coast guard ships, two submarines, marine patrol aircraft and helicopters.

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