Indian Navy launches IOS SAGAR initiative to boost maritime cooperation in Indian Ocean Region

March 18, 2026 3:47 PM

Indian Navy launches IOS SAGAR initiative to boost maritime cooperation in Indian Ocean Region

The Indian Navy has commenced the second edition of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative from March 16, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships and security in the Indian Ocean Region. The latest edition comes shortly after India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in February 2026 and includes participation from 16 member nations of the region. Enhancing maritime collaboration The IOS SAGAR initiative is part of India’...

DRDO, Indian Navy successfully test indigenous air-droppable container from P-8I aircraft

March 10, 2026 9:40 PM

DRDO, Indian Navy successfully test indigenous air-droppable container from P-8I aircraft

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have successfully conducted four in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’ from a Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1, 2026. The ADC-150, designed and developed in India, is capable of delivering payloads of up to 150 kilograms. The system is intended to strengthen the Navy’s operational logistics capabilities, enabling rapid delive...

Sri Lanka offloads 208 crew members from second Iranian ship a day after US strike sinks frigate

March 6, 2026 10:05 AM

Sri Lanka offloads 208 crew members from second Iranian ship a day after US strike sinks frigate

Sri Lanka started to offload 208 crew members from a second Iranian vessel off its coast on Thursday, a day after 87 people were killed and several others were still missing after a U.S. submarine strike on an Iranian warship in the same region. "After detailed discussions with all parties, Sri Lanka has decided to assist the Iranian vessel," Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press briefing in Colombo. The crew being offloaded included 53 officials, 84 cadets, 48 senior sail...

Defence Ministry signs Rs 5,083 crore deals for ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, VL-Shtil missiles

March 3, 2026 3:58 PM

Defence Ministry signs Rs 5,083 crore deals for ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, VL-Shtil missiles

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for the procurement of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch (VL)-Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked at South Block in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. According to the Ministry, the contract for six ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, along with operational role equipment, an engineering support pac...

Indian Navy to commission anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft Anjadip on Feb 27

February 23, 2026 4:18 PM

Indian Navy to commission anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft Anjadip on Feb 27

The Indian Navy is set to strengthen its anti-submarine warfare capabilities with the commissioning of Anjadip, the third vessel under the eight-ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project. The warship will be formally inducted into the Eastern Naval Command at Chennai Port on February 27. The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, marking another milestone in India’s push towards defence self-reliance under ...

Indian Navy inaugurates MILAN Village in Visakhapatnam ahead of Exercise MILAN 2026

February 16, 2026 1:10 PM

Indian Navy inaugurates MILAN Village in Visakhapatnam ahead of Exercise MILAN 2026

The Indian Navy on Sunday inaugurated the MILAN Village at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam as part of its flagship multilateral exercise, Exercise MILAN 2026. The ceremonial opening was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, who formally declared the village open and toured the facilities designed to foster global maritime engagement. Conceptualised as an immersive experience zone, the MILAN Village brings together delega...

Indian Navy assumes command of Maritime Combined Task Force 154

February 12, 2026 2:34 PM

Indian Navy assumes command of Maritime Combined Task Force 154

The Indian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, a key multinational training task force under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the Defence Ministry said on Thursday. The change of command ceremony was held on 11 February at CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, and was presided over by VAdm Curt A. Renshaw, Commander, CMF / US NAVCENT / US Fifth Fleet. According to the ministry, CTF 154 was established in May 2023 to build training and capacity among CMF member nations....

INS Sudarshini makes first international port call of Lokayan 26 in Salalah, Oman

February 4, 2026 7:44 PM

INS Sudarshini makes first international port call of Lokayan 26 in Salalah, Oman

Indian Naval Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the port of Salalah in Oman on February 2, marking the first international port call of its flagship transoceanic voyage, Lokayan 26. The visit represents a significant milestone in the vessel’s ten-month-long deployment aimed at showcasing India’s maritime heritage and strengthening international maritime cooperation. INS Sudarshini sailed from its home port of Kochi on January 20, navigating the seasonal winds of the Arabian Sea to...

Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini sets sail on global expedition ‘Lokayan 26’

January 20, 2026 9:45 PM

Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini sets sail on global expedition ‘Lokayan 26’

The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini on Tuesday embarked on a ten-month transoceanic expedition, Lokayan 26, marking a landmark global voyage aimed at showcasing India’s rich seafaring heritage and strengthening maritime cooperation across nations. The expedition was flagged off from Naval Base Kochi by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The voyage underscores India’s growing maritime outreach and the Navy’s commitment to...

Navy’s Republic Day tableau to depict India’s maritime journey from ancient times to a technologically advanced future

January 20, 2026 9:11 PM

Navy’s Republic Day tableau to depict India’s maritime journey from ancient times to a technologically advanced future

The Indian Navy on Tuesday conducted its press preview for the Republic Day Parade (RDP) 2026, offering a detailed glimpse of its marching contingent, tableau and band that will feature prominently during the national celebrations on Kartavya Path. Briefing the media, Contingent Commander Lt Karan Nagyal described the Republic Day Parade as a powerful symbol of national unity, reflecting India’s cultural diversity, military strength and technological progress. He said the Navy’s participati...