Large-scale maritime drill under Eastern Naval Command begins in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam on Thursday became the focal point of an unprecedented multilateral naval exercise after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inaugurated the 13th edition of MILAN-2026, which the Ministry of Defence describes as the largest and most inclusive in the series to date.
The week-long exercise, being conducted under the Eastern Naval Command, has drawn participation from 74 friendly foreign countries. The event brings an array of warships, aircraft and personnel to Visakhapatnam’s naval facilities for combined drills, professional exchanges and cultural interactions intended to deepen maritime cooperation.
"This edition reflects the global maritime community’s confidence in India as a trusted and responsible maritime partner," the Defence Minister said, according to the official report.
Before formally opening MILAN-2026, Mr Singh reviewed operational preparedness with senior naval officials in Visakhapatnam. The exercise has evolved from a regional initiative into one of the world’s prominent naval engagements, officials said, and this year’s scale underlines India’s expanding maritime outreach.
Purpose and scope
According to the official account, MILAN aims to:
- enhance interoperability among participating navies through coordinated drills;
- strengthen professional competence via the exchange of best practices; and
- deepen bonds of friendship through joint exercises and cultural engagement.
Participating navies will gain experience in large-scale, multilateral operations, with emphasis on coordinated responses to common challenges in the maritime domain. The event also includes professional exchanges and other interactions that naval authorities say foster mutual trust.
Local implications for Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command, will host visiting ships, aircraft and delegations, placing the city at the centre of the exercise's logistics and hospitality operations. The presence of large foreign naval contingents typically involves heightened security arrangements, port planning and coordination between naval and civil authorities, officials said.
Naval leadership has highlighted the exercise’s dual objective of operational readiness and diplomatic outreach. For the city, MILAN-2026 will bring additional activity at naval and port facilities and increased interaction with visiting delegations.
Quick facts
| Edition | 13th |
|---|---|
| Host city | Visakhapatnam |
| Conducted by | Eastern Naval Command |
| Participating countries | 74 |
Officials described MILAN’s growth as a sign of increasing trust in India’s role in regional and global maritime security. They said that joint exercises and exchanges during the event would help navies to coordinate in search-and-rescue, maritime domain awareness and other cooperative tasks.
While the inauguration and large-scale participation are emphasised in official reports, the exercise will also be an opportunity for naval personnel in Visakhapatnam to host delegations, demonstrate procedures and benchmark practices against a wide range of partner navies.
No operational details about specific drills, ship movements or timelines beyond the public inauguration were disclosed in the official report. Authorities said routine security and logistical measures would be in place for the duration of the exercise.
The inauguration of MILAN-2026 reinforces Visakhapatnam’s status as a principal naval hub on India’s east coast and a venue for high-profile international maritime engagement.
