The Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi from July 20 to 23 in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
The exercise will be conducted under the aegis of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the CMF’s dedicated Training Task Force, bringing together personnel from CMF partner nations for professional maritime security training, practical exercises and the exchange of best practices.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening regional capacity building and enhancing collective maritime security through closer cooperation among participating countries. The Combined Maritime Forces is a multinational maritime partnership comprising more than 40 nations, with the Indian Navy playing an active role in advancing collaborative maritime security efforts.
The training programme will combine classroom instruction, simulator-based learning and practical onboard experience. Participants will receive training in key areas such as maritime law, maritime domain awareness and information sharing, counter-narcotics operations, force protection, asymmetric threats and the use of maritime uncrewed systems.
The programme will also include practical modules on damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea, boarding procedures and hands-on training aboard an Indian Naval ship, providing participants with operational exposure alongside theoretical instruction.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the exercise will showcase the Southern Naval Command’s modern training infrastructure, state-of-the-art simulators, advanced instructional methodologies and professional expertise. The integration of classroom learning with practical application is expected to enhance interoperability, strengthen professional understanding and improve cooperation among participating navies.
Hosting the multinational engagement at the Southern Naval Command further reinforces its position as one of the Indian Navy’s premier training establishments while underlining India’s growing contribution to international maritime training initiatives. The exercise is also expected to strengthen the Indian Navy’s standing as a preferred destination for professional sea training and maritime capacity-building programmes.
