The multinational naval exercise, hosted by the Indian Navy, brought together ships, submarines and aircraft from across the world, marking one of the largest editions of the exercise to date
MILAN 2026 saw participation on an unprecedented scale. Pic/Defence PRO
Indian Navy's Exercise MILAN 2026 concluded on Tuesday with a closing ceremony held onboard India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, off the coast of Visakhapatnam, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The multinational naval exercise, hosted by the Indian Navy, brought together ships, submarines and aircraft from across the world, marking one of the largest editions of the exercise to date.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. Commanding Officers and senior officers from all participating units attended the event.
The ceremony marked the successful completion of the exercise and celebrated the growing cooperation among navies operating in the Bay of Bengal region.
Record participation from 42 ships and 29 aircraft
Held under the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’, MILAN 2026 saw participation on an unprecedented scale.
A total of 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft took part, including 18 ships from friendly foreign countries, the statement issued by Defence PRO stated.
Maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany and the United States also participated, along with integral helicopters deployed onboard foreign naval ships.
Harbour phase focused on dialogue and exchange
The exercise began with a Harbour Phase, which included bilateral meetings, Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) programmes and the International Maritime Seminar.
Professional interactions were supported by cultural exchanges, cross-deck visits and outstation tours. Activities such as the MILAN of Young Officers (MOYO) interaction and friendly sports fixtures encouraged informal engagement and exchange of best practices.
High-intensity drills at sea
The Sea Phase followed, featuring complex operational drills aimed at strengthening interoperability. These included integrated air defence exercises, anti-submarine warfare operations, maritime interdiction drills, surface strike coordination and communication exercises.
Cross-deck flying operations and live firing drills — including surface gun shoots and anti-air firings — were also conducted. The exercise placed strong emphasis on joint mission planning, real-time coordination and logistical support at sea.
Friendly foreign navies carried out high-tempo tactical manoeuvres alongside Indian naval ships, reflecting shared maritime interests in ensuring safe and secure seas.
Strengthening maritime partnerships
During the closing ceremony, Commanding Officers from participating navies praised the professional conduct and detailed planning of the exercise. They said MILAN 2026 had successfully achieved its training and operational objectives, enhancing mutual understanding and collective readiness.
The exercise was aligned with the vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — and highlighted the shared commitment of participating nations to strengthen maritime cooperation.
The successful conclusion of MILAN 2026 underlines the growing importance of multilateral naval engagement in maintaining regional security and stability.
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