Overview
- The nine-day exercise runs November 10–18 at the US base in Guam with India, the United States, Japan and Australia participating.
- India’s guided-missile frigate INS Sahyadri is alongside named partner ships including USS Fitzgerald, HMAS Ballarat and JS Hyuga for combined operations.
- A harbor phase of planning and communications alignment precedes sea drills featuring joint fleet maneuvers, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials and flying operations.
- Participants highlight improved coordination through common maritime surveillance aircraft and shared platforms that build a unified operational picture.
- This edition follows the new US–India Major Defence Partnership framework and proceeds against a backdrop of reported trade strains, including a 50% US tariff on India, while the separate Cope India air exercise was deferred and a single B-1 bomber was sent for integration sorties.