The Indian Navy’s major multilateral maritime exercise MILAN 2026 concluded today with a closing ceremony held onboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
The ceremony was led by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. Commanding Officers and senior officers from all participating navies attended the event, marking the successful end of the exercise in the Bay of Bengal.
MILAN 2026 was held under the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’. A total of 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft took part in the exercise. This included 18 ships from Friendly Foreign Countries, making it one of the largest editions of the exercise so far.
Officials said the exercise helped improve coordination between navies and strengthened their ability to respond quickly to maritime challenges. It also supported India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which focuses on security and growth across regions.
During the closing ceremony, Commanding Officers appreciated the professional planning and smooth conduct of the exercise. They said it achieved its training goals and improved teamwork, understanding and readiness among participating navies.
The successful completion of MILAN 2026 reflects the shared commitment of the participating countries to work together for safe and secure seas.
