More than 600 personnel from both navies are taking part in the bilateral exercise at Lumut Naval Base….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and Malaysia have launched the bilateral naval exercise Samudra Laksamana at Lumut Naval Base, bringing together more than 600 personnel from the Indian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) for joint training and maritime cooperation.
The exercise began with an opening ceremony at the naval base, where First Admiral Ahmad Sapuan Fathi bin Haji Muhammad, Deputy Commander of the RMN’s Western Fleet, welcomed Indian Navy ship INS Mysore to Malaysia.
The High Commission of India in Malaysia said the ceremony marked the formal start of the bilateral exercise and highlighted the two countries’ commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation.
During a familiarisation visit aboard INS Mysore, the Deputy Fleet Commander and other senior RMN officials were briefed on the Indian warship’s capabilities and key features.
INS Mysore arrived at Lumut Naval Base on September 9 and received a warm welcome from an RMN delegation.
The Indian Navy ship will participate in the exercise alongside RMN ships KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera. The programme will include professional interactions, focused briefings and cross-ship visits aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening operational cooperation between the two navies.
The High Commission said the visit is also aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, underscoring the growing maritime partnership between India and Southeast Asian nations.
The latest naval exercise follows closer defence engagement between India and Malaysia across the services.
Last month, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 had strengthened interoperability and mutual learning between the Indian and Royal Malaysian air forces.
The exercise, held at Subang Airbase in Malaysia, involved Indian Rafale aircraft and Malaysian Su-30MKM and F/A-18 crews exchanging operational insights and experiences.
The IAF said the exercise further strengthened professional ties and cooperation between the two air forces, while joint field training and subject matter expert exchanges focused on operational learning, sharing best practices and enhancing interoperability.
The growing series of bilateral exercises reflects efforts by India and Malaysia to deepen defence cooperation and build greater coordination between their armed forces.
