NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy is set to host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi from July 20 to 23, 2026. The initiative reflects India’s continued commitment to enhancing regional maritime security and strengthening capacity-building efforts through international collaboration.
The engagement will be organised in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the banner of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the CMF’s dedicated training task force. Personnel from CMF partner nations will participate in the programme, which is aimed at improving maritime security competencies, enhancing interoperability, and promoting the exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among participating navies.
Comprising more than 40 member nations, the Combined Maritime Forces is a multinational maritime partnership dedicated to ensuring security, stability, and freedom of navigation across strategically important international waters. As the lead nation for CTF 154, the Indian Navy continues to play a key role in advancing multinational maritime training and fostering regional security cooperation.
The four-day programme will include a blend of classroom sessions, simulator-based instruction, and practical training. Participants will receive comprehensive instruction in subjects such as maritime law, maritime domain awareness, information sharing, counter-narcotics operations, force protection, asymmetric threats, and the employment of maritime uncrewed systems.
The exercise will also provide hands-on training in critical operational areas, including damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea, boarding operations, and onboard training aboard an Indian Naval ship, offering participants valuable exposure to realistic maritime operational environments.
The Indian Navy said the programme will showcase the Southern Naval Command’s advanced training infrastructure, state-of-the-art simulators, and modern instructional practices. By combining academic learning with practical application, the engagement seeks to enhance professional expertise, improve interoperability, and strengthen cooperation among participating countries.
The hosting of Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command further reinforces the command’s status as a premier centre for maritime training. It also highlights the Indian Navy’s growing role in multinational capacity-building initiatives and underscores India’s emergence as a preferred destination for high-quality professional maritime and naval training.
