The Indian and United States navies are conducting a joint exercise - Exercise Malabar 05 - in the Arabian Sea, which would continue till October 4. The exercise, which began on September 25, is eighth in the series and it is for the first time that aircraft carriers from the two navies are participating, a Defence Ministry release said on Tuesday.

The thrust of Exercise Malabar this year is on aviation interoperability between FA-18 and Sea Harrier fighters, advanced anti-submarine warfare, sea control mission, fleet air defence, surface firing, maritime interdiction operations and visitboard search and seizure operations towards anti-piracy and counter-terrorism actions at sea.

The exercises are a part of wider cooperation between the Indian and US Navies, which include service-to-service interaction, high-level visits, joint exercises of increasing scope and complexity and military training.

• India, US aircraft carriers go head-to-head

From the US Navy, USS Nimitz (an aircraft carrier with FA-18 Super Hornet fighters and E2C Hawkeye Air Early Warning aircraft), two Aegies class destroyers, one Los Angeles Class SSN and P3C Orion aircraft are taking part in the exercise.

From the Indian Navy, INS Viraat (an aircraft carrier with Sea Harrier fighters and Sea King helicopters), Delhi Class Guided Missile Destroyer, Godavari Class Guided Missile Frigate, Shishumar Class Submarine, Underway Replenishment Tanker, TU 142 M long-range Maritime Patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, Donier 228 Maritime Patrol aircraft and other multi-role helicopters are participating, the release said.