Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri Arrives at Yokosuka Base in Japan for Exercise Malabar 2026

Why in the News?

**INS Sahyadri**, an indigenously built guided-missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, arrived at the **Yokosuka Naval Base** in Japan on November 4, 2026, to participate in the multilateral naval **Exercise Malabar 2026**.

Key Features / Major Points:

- Arrival & Welcome Ceremony:

- Accorded a warm welcome by the **Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)**.

- Attended by Vice Admiral Yagi Koji (Commandant, Yokosuka District) and Shri R. Madhu Sudan (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Tokyo).

- Participating Quad Nations:

- Navies of **India, Japan, the United States, and Australia**.

- Exercise Phases & Operational Scope:

- **Harbour Phase:** Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), cross-deck visits, and joint operational planning.

- **Sea Phase:** Complex anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defense drills, and live tactical firings.

- Aligns with India’s vision of **'MAHASAGAR'** (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) in the Indo-Pacific.

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Static GK Facts:

- Exercise Malabar:

- Initiated: **1992** (as a bilateral exercise between India and US).

- Expansion: **Japan** joined permanently in **2015**, and **Australia** rejoined in **2020** (forming a Quad-nation exercise).

- INS Sahyadri (F49):

- Class: **Shivalik-class** indigenous stealth multi-role frigate.

- Built by: **Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai**.

- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF):

- The naval warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: Which Indian naval warship arrived at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan to participate in Exercise Malabar 2026?

A: INS Sahyadri

Q: Which four nations participate in the multilateral naval Exercise Malabar?

A: India, Japan, United States, and Australia (Quad Nations)

Q: In which year was Exercise Malabar originally launched as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US?

A: 1992

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