MILAN 2026 wraps up aboard INS Vikrant off Visakhapatnam
Exercise MILAN 2026, the Indian Navy’s flagship multilateral maritime exercise, concluded on Wednesday with a closing ceremony held onboard INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by Commanding Officers and officers from all participating ships, submarines, and air units.
Conducted under the theme “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration,” MILAN 2026 recorded its largest participation to date, bringing together 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft. Eighteen ships from Friendly Foreign Countries joined the exercise. Maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany, and the United States also participated, along with helicopters embarked on foreign warships.
The exercise began with a Harbour Phase featuring bilateral engagements, professional exchanges, and the International Maritime Seminar. Cultural interactions, cross-deck visits, and sports fixtures complemented the formal programme.
This was followed by the Sea Phase, which involved advanced operational drills, including integrated air defence, antisubmarine warfare exercises, maritime interdiction operations, surface strike coordination, and communication exercises. Cross-deck flying operations and live firings, including surface gun shoots and anti-air engagements, were also conducted.
According to Navy officials, the drills focused on enhancing interoperability, real-time coordination, joint mission planning, and logistics at sea. Foreign navies carried out tactical manoeuvres alongside Indian Naval Ships in the Bay of Bengal, reflecting growing cooperation on maritime security.
At the closing ceremony, Commanding Officers of participating units expressed appreciation for the planning and execution of the exercise, noting that MILAN 2026 had achieved its operational and training objectives.
Exercise MILAN is aimed at strengthening partnerships among friendly navies and improving collective readiness to address emerging maritime challenges.