Indian Navy’s week-long maritime exercise Milan 2026 Concludes With Record Participation

Indian Navy’s week-long maritime exercise Milan 2026 Concludes With Record Participation

The Indian Navy’s week-long maritime exercise Milan concluded on Wednesday with the participation of 42 warships and submarines, along with 29 military aircraft. The large-scale drill also saw 18 ships from friendly foreign nations, underscoring growing naval cooperation in the region.

The exercise culminated with a closing ceremony onboard India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam. Held under the theme “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration,” Milan 2026 marked one of the largest editions of the exercise to date.

Maritime surveillance aircraft from France, Germany and the United States also took part. According to the Indian Navy, the primary objective was to enhance coordination, interoperability and mutual understanding among participating navies.

Harbour Engagements, High-Intensity Sea Drills

The exercise began with a harbour phase that included bilateral meetings, international maritime seminars and expert-level discussions aimed at strengthening strategic ties.

The subsequent sea phase featured high-intensity operational drills focusing on advanced warfare disciplines such as integrated air defence, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction operations, communication exercises and cross-deck flying operations. Live firing drills involving artillery and anti-aircraft systems were also conducted.

India deployed key naval assets including INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class frigates and the diving support vessel INS Nistar, showcasing the Navy’s expanding operational capabilities and indigenous strength.