42 warships, submarines and 29 aircraft: How Navy’s mega exercise MILAN unfolded

NEW DELHI: MILAN 2026, a multilateral naval workout hosted by the Indian Navy, concluded connected February 25 with a closing ceremonial held onboard craft bearer INS Vikrant disconnected the seashore of Visakhapatnam.The ceremonial was attended by naval officers from participating countries and presided implicit by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. The workout was conducted successful the Bay of Bengal and progressive ships, submarines and craft from aggregate countries.A full of 42 ships and submarines and 29 craft participated successful the exercise, including 18 warships from overseas navies. Maritime patrol craft from France, Germany and the United States besides took part."Held nether the taxable ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’, MILAN 2026 witnessed information connected an unprecedented scale, comprising 42 ships and submarines and, 29 aircraft. These besides included 18 ships from the participating Friendly Foreign Countries," the ministry of defence said successful a statement.The workout began with a harbour signifier that included bilateral engagements, taxable substance adept exchanges and an planetary maritime seminar.

Professional interactions were accompanied by taste activities, cross-deck visits and outstation visits by participating personnel.Technological demonstrations and interactions among young naval officers were besides held. "Technological demonstrations and the MILAN of Young Officers (MOYO) enactment facilitated the speech of champion practices, portion affable sports fixtures enabled informal interaction," the connection read.This was followed by the oversea phase, which included "high-intensity operational drills" specified arsenic integrated aerial defence exercises, anti-submarine warfare operations and maritime interdiction drills.Surface onslaught coordination exercises, connection drills and cross-deck flying operations were besides conducted.Live firing exercises involving naval guns and anti-air weapons were carried retired during the operational phase.Participating navies besides conducted tactical manoeuvres astatine oversea arsenic portion of coordinated operational drills.During the closing ceremonial onboard INS Vikrant, officers from participating ships reviewed the behaviour of the exercise.According to the authoritative statement, the workout focused connected operational coordination and maritime practice among participating navies.