NEW DELHI, Sept 29: Indo-US Joint naval exercises will commence off the Goa coast from October 4, providing an opportunity to Indian Navy for testing its capabilities along with its warships.

In the sixth series of Malabar exercises, the frontline Indian anti-submarine warfare ships will match their skills with the US Pacific fleets Los Angeles class nuclear submarine as well as Ticonderoga missile cruiser and Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigate, said a news dispatch here today.

For the first time, the US Navy will include long-range maritime and submarine hunter aircraft P3C Orions in the exercises. New Delhi and Washington are in an advanced stage of negotiations on the Navy acquiring ten of these aircraft on Government-to-Government sales to augment its depleted maritime capabilities, added the report. -APP