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Malabar 2016 -- a trilateral maritime exercise involving the Indian Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US naval forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific -- concluded on June 17.
Malabar, which began as a bilateral American-Indian exercise in 1992 but has included Japan since 2007, builds upon progress made during previous exercises, improving participating nations' ability to conduct joint and multilateral operations, and improves multilateral coordination and capacity.
Here are some stunning glimpses of the exercise:
Image: The Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) maneuvers along with the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) while conducting a search-and-rescue exercise during Exercise Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Visit, board, search, and seizure team members from the Indian Navy and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) stack up in a passageway during joint VBSS training aboard the Indian Navy Deepak-class fleet tanker INS Shakti (A57) during Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 flies over USS John C Stennis' (CVN 74) during Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: An Indian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician and a US Navy Sailor launch a MK18 Mod. One unmanned underwater vehicle during a mine countermeasures training mission near Sasebo during Exercise Malabar 2016, June 13. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), left, and the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) maneuver while conducting a search-and-rescue exercise during Exercise Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Boatswain's Mate Seaman Jeremiah Benetti directs an Indian Navy Sea King Mk42 helicopter on the flight deck of the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53). Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: An Indian Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician enters the water during a training dive as part of exercise. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles E White/US Navy
Image: Sailors from the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) compete against Sailors from the Indian Navy in a volleyball match at the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force at the Sasebo Base Service Activity during Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Rear Adm Brian Hurley, centre, deputy commander of the US 7th Fleet, tours the Indian Navy Kora-class corvette INS Kirch (P62). Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Gunner's Mate 1st Class Thomas Frederick assigned to the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) sets a point position during a VBSS training. Photograph: US Navy
Image: An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Golden Hawks of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis (CVN 74). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago/US Navy
Image: A combined formation of aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 pass in formation above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis (CVN 74). The formation included F/A-18 Hornets from the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, the "Royal Maces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27, the "Vigilantes" of Strike Fighter Squadron 151, and the "Warhawks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tomas Compian/US Navy
Image: Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) steams alongside USS John C Stennis (CVN 74). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/US Navy
Image: Malabar 2016 participants from the Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and US Navy sail in formation alongside USS John C Stennis (CVN 74). Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/US Navy
Image: Sonar Technician 2nd Class Berry Beaver, a member of the visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), posts a perimeter watch on a ladderwell aboard the Deepak-class fleet oiler INS Shakti (A57) while conducting joint VBSS operations. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: From left to right, the Indian Navy Deepak-class fleet oiler INS Shakti (A57), Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH-181) transit together at the conclusion of Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Lt Cmdr Milind Phadke, assigned to the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49), speaks with Lt Jon Paris on the bridge wing of the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53). Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) fire the Mk-45 5-inch gun during a live-fire surface gun exercise with the Indian Navy Kora-class corvette INS Kirch (P62) and Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigates INS Sahyadri (F49) and INS Satpura (F48) during Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: The Indian Navy Kora-class corvette INS Kirch (P62) and Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigates INS Sahyadri (F49) and INS Satpura (F48) transit while conducting a live-fire surface gun exercise during Malabar 2016. Photograph: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Batchelder/US Navy
Image: Rear Adm Marcus Hitchcock, commander, John C Stennis Strike Group, cuts a cake with Indian Navy Rear Adm S V Bhokare (left), flag officer commanding Eastern Fleet and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm Koji Manabe, commander, Escort Flotilla 3, aboard USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) after the conclusion of Malabar 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago/US Navy