The Indian and American navies will conduct joint exercises off the coast of Goa from October 4.

In the sixth series of the Malabar exercises, Indian antisubmarine warfare ships will match their skills with the US Pacific Fleet's Los Angeles class nuclear submarine as well as Ticonderoga missile cruiser and Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigate.

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 India acquiring ten of these aircraft to augment its maritime capabilities.

India will also field one Delhi class guided missile destroyer, one Brahmaputra class guided missile frigate, German acquired HDW Shishukar Class submarine and Sea-Harrier fighters operating from Goa land bases.

The two navies will also undertake manoeuvres on sea-control missions, fleet air defence, surface firings and maritime interdiction operations.

During their earlier series of six joint exercises, Indian and the US navies evolved a standard operating procedure and a naval spokesman said this would be put to test during the latest exercise.