The Indian Navy will host the multinational maritime exercise Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 in Kochi from July 20 to 23, bringing together partner navies to strengthen maritime security, operational readiness, and international naval cooperation.

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• The Indian Navy will conduct Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi from July 20 to 23 in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces under Combined Task Force 154.
• The four-day multinational exercise aims to strengthen maritime security cooperation, improve interoperability among partner navies, and enhance operational readiness through joint training and professional exchanges.
• Naval personnel from around 25 partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Djibouti, and Seychelles, will participate in the exercise.
• The training programme will feature classroom sessions, simulator-based instruction, and practical onboard exercises covering damage control, firefighting, survival at sea, boarding procedures, and coordinated maritime operations.
• Participants will receive specialised training in maritime law, maritime domain awareness, counter-narcotics operations, and the use of maritime uncrewed systems to address evolving security challenges at sea.
• The Indian Navy assumed command of Combined Task Force 154 in February 2026, with Commodore Milind M. Mokashi becoming the first Indian naval officer to lead a task force under the Combined Maritime Forces.
• The Southern Naval Command in Kochi, the Indian Navy’s premier training command, will host the exercise using its advanced training infrastructure and modern simulation facilities.
• Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 reflects India’s growing role in global maritime security and reinforces cooperation with international naval partners to promote a safe, secure, and rules-based maritime environment.