OPERATION SOUTHERN READINESS 26-2 CONCLUDES AT SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND, KOCHI

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, concluded at Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 23 Jul 2026. Conducted by the Indian Navy in partnership with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154, the event brought together 276 personnel from 27 countries, supported by 76 facilitators and Subject Matter Experts, with participation from four international organisations.

The engagement was inaugurated on 20 Jul 2026 by RAdm Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Headquarters Southern Naval Command, in the presence of Cmde Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, senior officers, and representatives of participating nations. The Closing Ceremony, held on 23 Jul 2026, featured a closing address by Cmde Milind M Mokashi, Commander CTF 154, presentation of certificates to the facilitators, and a valedictory address by the Chief Staff Officer (Training).

The programme brought together maritime security, legal and operational perspectives through professional discussions, simulator-based instructions, and practical training. Sessions addressed Maritime Domain Awareness and Information Sharing, Maritime Law, Counter-Narcotics, Force Protection Measures, Asymmetric Threats, Maritime Uncrewed Systems, and Operational Sea Training. The domain-specific training was facilitated through inputs from the Indian Navy, including the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), CMF elements such as the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), and specialist international organisations including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMO IMLI).

Participants also undertook practical training in Damage Control and Firefighting, maritime communications, Survival at Sea, and Boarding procedures, besides sea training onboard Indian Naval ship. These activities provided opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and Best Practices, contributing to building greater understanding across maritime services and organisations.

The engagement strengthened interoperability, professional networks, and operational confidence among participating nations. It also contributed to regional capacity-building and collective maritime security by combining theoretical understanding with hands-on training. The four-day engagement generated 3,800 training man-hours.

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 demonstrated the Indian Navy's modern training infrastructure, state-of-the-art simulators, advanced instructional methodologies, and professional expertise. The successful conduct of the exercise has reinforced the Indian Navy-CMF partnership and has underscored Indian Navy's leadership of CTF 154 whilst highlighting Southern Naval Command's role as a leading training hub and preferred destination for professional maritime training.

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VM/AS 138/26