Three Indian naval vessels have arrived in Fremantle ahead of a bilateral exercise with Royal Australian Navy assets.

The guided missile frigate INS Shivalik — the first stealth warship built in India — the anti-submarine stealth corvette INS Kamorta (also built in India), and oiler INS Jyoti make up the trio.

Exercise Australia India precedes Exercise Malabar, a joint annual event held north of Australia.

Malabar includes India, The United States, and Japan.

It used to include Australia until 2007, after which the Rudd Government withdrew.

It had been reported that India declined an Australian request to participate in 2017.

But speaking in Fremantle, the Indian Navy's Flag Officer Commanding of Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, said the final decision was yet to be made.

"The proposal for Australia to participate in Malabar is still resting with the Indian Government," he said.

"We are waiting to hear the outcome as much as you are.

"I think it is a decision which is pending at the Indian Government level and we will abide by whatever decision comes out."

Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, said bilateral relations with Australia had an "interesting history" dating back to the late 18th century.

INS Shivalik is fitted with a range of armaments, including a deck-mounted 76mm cannon. ( ABC News: David Weber )

"Despite various commonalities between our two countries, the relationship really started evolving from the early 1990s," he said.

"While trade and commercial relationships grew quickly, the strategic dimension of the partnership developed at a somewhat sedate pace.

"And that dictated the tempo of Defence relationships as well."

But that pace had picked up since 2009, particularly after the Australia-India Framework for Security Co-operation formalised in 2014.

Rear Admiral Dasgupta said the interaction between navies would allow the sharing of common concerns, generating trust and enhancing shipbuilding, and Defence industry.

He also said India would be happy to see RAN ships in its waters more often.

The guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle and the submarine HMAS Waller will participate in AUSINDEX, along with a number of RAAF P3 Orions.

The exercise will take place between June 17 and 19.