The Indian Navy officially concluded the multinational exercise MILAN 2026, one of the largest naval activities organized by New Delhi, which in this edition brought together around 60 surface ships, submarines, and aircraft from various Indo-Pacific and other regional navies. The activities took place between February 15 and 25 in Visakhapatnam, in the Indian Ocean.
As previously reported by Zona Militar, the exercise organized by the Indian Navy was carried out in two different phases—one in port and one at sea—and included combined anti-submarine warfare operations, air defense, surface maneuvers, and maritime interdiction exercises. According to figures released by Indian authorities and local media, the sea phase—where we were present as a media outlet—involved the participation of more than 40 warships, several submarines, and nearly 30 aircraft, consolidating MILAN 2026 as one of the largest multilateral naval gatherings of the year in the region.
MILAN 2026 brought together navies from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, reaffirming India’s intention to position itself as a central actor in the Indo-Pacific security architecture. Among the most prominent participants was Russia, which took part with the deployment of the anti-submarine destroyer RFS “Marshal Shaposhnikov” (BPK 543), in addition to other units invited to the International Fleet Review (IFR) and the exercise itself.
Other participating vessels included the KD “Sri Indera Sakti,” a multi-role logistics support ship of the Royal Malaysian Navy, as well as the UAE corvette “Al-Emarat.” Maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany, and the United States were also present.
Operational scenarios and capabilities deployed
During the maritime phase, complex maneuvers were conducted, including coordinated anti-submarine operations, air defense exercises in multinational formations, surface maneuvers and tactical communications, as well as maritime interdiction and boarding operations. All of this was accompanied by the presence of destroyers, frigates, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft that rehearsed procedures in high-intensity warfare scenarios, in a region where naval activity has steadily increased in recent years. Likewise, the exercise validated coordination among participants, rapid response capability, and best practices, in line with the MAHASAGAR vision: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The conclusion of MILAN 2026 also comes amid strong naval dynamism in the Indo-Pacific, where China continues expanding its maritime presence through exercises and patrols. In this context, India seeks to consolidate its role as a provider of maritime security and as a convergence point for naval forces interested in maintaining stability and freedom of navigation along the main commercial routes of the Indian Ocean.
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