Indian Navy's MILAN 2026 Naval Exercise Concludes with Grand Ceremony on INS Vikrant
The Indian Navy's prestigious multilateral naval exercise, MILAN 2026, successfully concluded on February 25 with a formal closing ceremony held aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and attended by senior naval officers from all participating nations, marking the culmination of a significant international maritime event.
Unprecedented Scale of Participation
Conducted under the theme 'Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration', MILAN 2026 witnessed participation on an unprecedented scale, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence in an official statement. The exercise involved a formidable fleet of 42 ships and submarines alongside 29 aircraft operating in the Bay of Bengal. Notably, this included 18 warships contributed by friendly foreign navies, alongside maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany, and the United States, showcasing a broad international commitment to maritime security.
Comprehensive Harbour and Sea Phases
The exercise was meticulously structured into two main phases. The initial harbour phase, held in Visakhapatnam, was rich with professional and cultural exchanges. It featured:
- Bilateral engagements and high-level meetings between naval delegations.
- Subject matter expert exchanges covering contemporary maritime challenges.
- An international maritime seminar to discuss strategic issues.
- Cultural activities, cross-deck visits, and outstation tours for personnel to foster camaraderie.
- Technological demonstrations and the MILAN of Young Officers (MOYO) interaction, designed to share best practices and innovations.
- Friendly sports fixtures to encourage informal bonding among the international crews.
This was followed by the high-intensity sea phase, which transitioned to dynamic operational drills in the Bay of Bengal. These drills included:
- Integrated air defence exercises to test coordinated responses to aerial threats.
- Anti-submarine warfare operations involving submarines and patrol aircraft.
- Maritime interdiction drills simulating boarding and inspection scenarios.
- Surface strike coordination exercises to enhance targeting precision.
- Advanced communication drills ensuring seamless interoperability.
- Cross-deck flying operations between different naval vessels.
- Live firing exercises utilizing naval guns and anti-air weapons to validate combat readiness.
- Tactical manoeuvres at sea as part of complex coordinated operational drills.
Focus on Operational Coordination and Future Cooperation
During the closing ceremony on INS Vikrant, officers from all participating ships conducted a comprehensive review of the exercise's execution. The official statement emphasized that MILAN 2026's core focus was on enhancing operational coordination and strengthening maritime cooperation among the participating navies. The event not only served as a platform for rigorous professional training but also significantly bolstered diplomatic and military ties across the Indo-Pacific region, reinforcing collective security objectives.
