India’s INS Sahyadri joins power-packed Malabar 2025 drill in Guam — Here’s why it matters

 "The participation of INS Sahyadri in Exercise Malabar-2025 reaffirms India's enduring partnership and its commitment to strengthening coordination, enhancing interoperability, and demonstrating a collective resolve to safeguard regional security," read an official statement.

Indigenously designed and constructed, INS Sahyadri is a Guided Missile Stealth Frigate.

"The ship is a shining example of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision and has participated in several bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as operational deployments," the statement said.

The Harbour Phase of Exercise Malabar-2025 will feature operational planning and discussions, alignment on communication protocols, familiarisation visits between participating nations, and sports fixtures.

Following the harbour phase, all participating units will proceed for the Sea Phase, wherein ships and aircraft will take part in naval drills, focusing on joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials and flying operations.

Exercise Malabar, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and Indian Navy, has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.