(VOVWORLD) - Visakhapatnam port city in Andhra Pradesh, southeastern India, is hosting the MILAN 2026 Maritime Exercise from February 15 to 25, bringing together naval forces from 72 countries and around 60 warships.
 Representatives of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet and the Vietnamese Navy delegation exchanged views on operational details. (Photo: baohaiquanvietnam.vn) |
The Vietnam People's Navy has deployed Ship No. 17 from Brigade 171, Naval Region 2, along with a delegation to take part in the exercise. This is Vietnam’s fourth participation in MILAN.
MILAN 2026 will officially open on February 18 with an International Fleet Review (IFR), presided over by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The event will feature warships and aircraft from the Indian Navy and partner countries. India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is expected to take part in the ceremony.
 Officers and soldiers of Ship 17 practicing combat deployment to protect the ship's survivability. Photo: baohaiquanvietnam.vn |
The fleet review will be an opportunity for India to showcase its indigenous defense-industrial capabilities, including modern destroyers, stealth frigates, anti-submarine warfare vessels, and other advanced platforms designed and built domestically.
As part of MILAN 2026, advanced sea-phase drills will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from February 21 to 25. Participating navies will focus on complex operations such as anti-submarine warfare, air defense, electronic warfare, search and rescue, and maritime domain awareness, with an emphasis on “multi-domain coordination” among surface, subsurface, and aerial forces.
The exercise will also include international maritime seminars and professional exchanges aimed at planning, harmonizing procedures, and enhancing interoperability among participating forces.