GlobalData plc

10/13/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/12/2021 22:04

India looks to enhance naval warfare synergies with Quad during Malabar-21 to counter China threat, says GlobalData

13 Oct 2021
India looks to enhance naval warfare synergies with Quad during Malabar-21 to counter China threat, says GlobalData

Posted in Aerospace, Defense & Security

Following the commencement of the phase II of maritime exercise Malabar-21;

Sourabh Banik, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the countries that are participating:

"As the Quad countries consisting of India, US, Australia and Japan assemble again to participate in the second phase of Malabar-21, their objectives still revolve around improving synergies among the four Navies, and countering China's assertiveness in the region. In the past, India had raised several objections against alleged incursions of the Chinese naval vessels and submarines in India's territorial waters, especially in the Bay of Bengal area.

"During this second maritime exercise, the Quad countries will be focusing on the surface and anti-submarine warfare in the Bay of Bengal, which clearly indicates India's intentions of developing joint response strategies with its partners against any future conflict with the Chinese Naval Forces in the region.

"The exercise is also happening in the backdrop of a recent flare up between the Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh and the stalemate between the two countries in de-escalation talks along the line of actual control (LAC) this month. According to GlobalData, India is anticipated to spend about *US$58.9bn on procuring naval vessels and submarines over the next 10 years to maintain parity and deter its regional rival China, which will closely lead in terms of spending on similar platforms with an expenditure of *US$60.5bn during the same period.

"Multilateral naval exercises such as Malabar-21 involving several partner countries will also help India to close the gap in terms of numerical advantage that China currently poses with its huge naval fleet."

*Global Naval Vessels and Surface Combatants Market to 2031 and Global Submarine Market to 2031