Exercise MILAN 2026, the Indian Navy’s premier multilateral maritime exercise, concluded on Wednesday with a closing ceremony held onboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. Commanding Officers and senior representatives from all participating navies attended the event, marking the formal culmination of the exercise.
Held under the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’, MILAN 2026 witnessed participation on an unprecedented scale. A total of 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft took part in the exercise, including 18 ships from Friendly Foreign Countries. In addition, maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany and the United States participated alongside integral helicopters embarked on foreign naval ships.
The exercise commenced with the Harbour Phase, which featured bilateral engagements, a Subject Matter Expert Exchange programme, and the International Maritime Seminar. These professional interactions were complemented by cultural exchanges, cross-deck visits and outstation engagements. Technological demonstrations and the MILAN of Young Officers interaction facilitated exchange of best practices among participating nations, while friendly sports fixtures encouraged informal engagement.
The Sea Phase followed, comprising high-intensity operational drills across advanced warfare disciplines. These included integrated air defence and anti-submarine warfare exercises, maritime interdiction operations, surface strike coordination, communication exercises and cross-deck flying operations. Live firings, including surface gun shoots, anti-air engagements and FPM drills, were also conducted.
The participating navies carried out complex tactical manoeuvres, focusing on real-time coordination, joint mission planning and logistical support at sea. The exercise validated interoperability and collective readiness among the participating maritime forces.
During the closing ceremony, Commanding Officers of the participating ships expressed appreciation for the professional conduct and planning of the exercise. They affirmed that MILAN 2026 achieved its training objectives and operational goals, enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening maritime cooperation.
The successful conclusion of MILAN 2026 reflects the shared commitment of participating nations towards promoting safe and secure seas and advancing cooperation in the maritime domain, in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
