The Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi, from 20 to 23 July 2026, reinforcing its commitment to multinational maritime cooperation and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.
The four-day multinational training engagement will be conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the CMF’s dedicated training task force.
The exercise will bring together personnel from CMF partner nations for advanced maritime security training, professional exchanges and the sharing of best practices. Through its leadership of CTF 154, the Indian Navy continues to play a key role in strengthening regional maritime security and enhancing interoperability among partner navies. The CMF is a multinational maritime partnership comprising more than 40 member nations.
The training programme will feature a blend of classroom instruction, simulator-based modules and practical exercises. Participants will receive training in key areas such as maritime law, maritime domain awareness, information sharing, counter-narcotics operations, force protection, asymmetric threats and the employment of maritime uncrewed systems.
The curriculum will also include damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea, boarding operations and hands-on training aboard Indian Navy warships, providing participants with operational exposure to contemporary maritime security challenges.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise will showcase the Indian Navy’s advanced training infrastructure, modern simulation facilities and professional instructional expertise. By integrating theoretical learning with practical application, the programme aims to enhance operational readiness, interoperability and cooperation among participating nations.
Hosting Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at Southern Naval Command further reinforces the command’s position as the Indian Navy’s premier training establishment while highlighting India’s growing role in multinational maritime training and its emergence as a preferred destination for professional naval education and capacity building.
