NEWS
The 1st unit of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023 (IPD23), JS SHIRANUI participated in a multilateral exercise “MALABAR 2023”.
From August 16 to 21, the 1st Surface Unit of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023 (IPD23), JS SHIRANUI and Special Boarding Unit participated in Japan-US-India-Australia multilateral field training exercise MALABAR 2023 in Sydney and in waters east of Australia and conducted various tactical exercises (anti-submarine warfare exercise, anti-air warfare exercise, anti-surface warfare exercise, etc.) and replenishment at sea. Through the exercise, the unit enhanced its tactical capabilities, strengthened coordination and improved interoperability between the four naval forces.
The exercise was attended by USS RAFAEL PERALTA, USNS RAPPAHANNOCK, a submarine, P-8A and Special Operation Force from the U.S. Navy, INS KOLKATA and INS SAHYADRI from the Indian Navy, HMAS BRISBANE, HMAS CHOULES, a submarine and Special Operation Force from the Royal Australian Navy, and P-8A and F-35A from the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Commanding Officer of JS SHIRANUI, Commander MINAMI Kazuhiro said, “It has been a year since the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which represents illegal and unduly ‘unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.’ In addition, there are still attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the Indo-Pacific region. In the exercise, we conducted high-end tactical exercise. It was significantly critical to demonstrate to the world the unity of our four nations, who uphold universal values such as maintaining maritime order, democracy, and the rule of law under such a severe security environment.”
The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the international community, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in order to create a security environment that does not tolerate any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies.
