Quad conducts first Field Training Exercise under Indo-Pacific Logistics Network in Guam
New Delhi, December 19. The Quad grouping – comprising India, Australia, Japan and the US – has conducted its first-ever Field Training Exercise (FTX) under the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN), marking a significant step in strengthening coordinated disaster response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, the exercise was held from December 8 to 12 on the sidelines of Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. It brought together personnel from all four Quad partners to test and enhance interoperability in logistics and humanitarian assistance operations.
The IPLN is aimed at enabling Quad countries to better leverage their shared logistics capabilities to support civilian responses to large-scale natural disasters. The initiative seeks to ensure faster and more efficient delivery of relief across the Indo-Pacific, helping save lives, accelerate recovery efforts and provide timely support to regional partners during crises.
As part of the FTX, participants undertook a range of training activities focused on coordination and operational compatibility, including boarding and familiarisation exercises aboard a Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130H transport aircraft. The training was designed to improve mutual understanding of each partner’s capabilities and procedures, a key requirement for effective joint disaster response.
The exercise significantly strengthened the Quad’s collective capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies and reflected the grouping’s broader objective of supporting regional partners in times of need.
The field exercise built on the IPLN Tabletop Exercise conducted in April 2025, together underscoring the Quad’s emphasis on practical cooperation to address shared regional challenges. The initiative also aligns with the Quad’s stated commitment to promoting a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Looking ahead, the Quad partners plan to explore regular IPLN engagements, including future tabletop and field training exercises, confidence-building measures and exchanges among subject matter experts, to further institutionalise logistics cooperation and disaster response preparedness.
