MILAN 2026 was the 13th edition of the Indian Navy’s flagship multilateral naval exercise, held from February 15 to 25, 2026, in Visakhapatnam. It was the largest iteration to date, forming part of a “Maritime Trifecta” alongside the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs.
Key Details of MILAN 2026
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- Theme: “Camaraderie, Cohesion, and Collaboration”
- Location: Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Participation: A record 75 nations participated, reflecting India’s role as a “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indo-Pacific.
- Scale: The exercise involved 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft, including 18 warships from friendly foreign countries.
The Two Phases of the Exercise
The exercise was structured into two distinct parts to bridge the gap between social diplomacy and combat readiness:
A. Harbour Phase (Feb 15–20)
This phase focused on “soft diplomacy” and intellectual exchange:
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- MILAN Village: A dedicated experience zone for cultural exchange, showcasing Indian handicrafts, cuisine, and heritage to foreign delegates.
- International Maritime Seminar: High-level discussions on maritime security, piracy, and drone warfare.
- Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE): Professional workshops where divers, pilots, and engineers shared best practices.
B. Sea Phase (Feb 21–25)
The exercise moved into the Bay of Bengal for high-intensity tactical drills:
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- Advanced Warfare: Included Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Integrated Air Defence, and surface strike coordination.
- Debutants: For the first time, naval assets from Germany, the Philippines, and the UAE participated in the drills.
- Carrier Integration: For the first time in MILAN history, MiG-29K fighters operating from the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant were integrated into large-scale air defence exercises.
Notable Participants and Vessels
| Country | Major Assets Involved |
|---|---|
| India | INS Vikrant (Aircraft Carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class frigates. |
| USA | USS Pinckney (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer) and P-8A Poseidon aircraft. |
| Russia | RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (Modernized frigate). |
| Philippines | BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) — its first-ever foreign mission. |
| Iran | IRIS Dena (Frigate) and IRIS Lavan (Landing ship). |
| Germany | First-time participation with maritime patrol aircraft. |
Major Incidents & Geopolitical Context
The 2026 edition took place against a backdrop of severe regional tension. A significant incident occurred shortly after the exercise:
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- Sinking of IRIS Dena: On March 4, 2026, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which had just concluded its participation in MILAN, was reportedly sunk by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. This event marked a major escalation in the 2026 Iran-Israel-US conflict and led to the internment of its sister ship, IRIS Lavan, at Kochi port.
Significance
MILAN 2026 served as a major operational manifestation of India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). It demonstrated India’s ability to host rival navies (e.g., USA and Russia) under a single professional umbrella, reinforcing New Delhi’s position as a stabilizing force in the global maritime commons.
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