The Indian Navy hosted 254 participants from 26 nations at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi for Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, showcasing advanced water survival techniques and interoperability.
The Southern Naval Command in Kochi became a focal point for international naval collaboration during Operation Southern Readiness 26-2. The four-day multinational maritime security engagement from July 20 to July 23, 2026 brought together 254 representatives from 26 partner countries, supported by 74 subject matter facilitators and representatives from four major international organizations.
Hosted under the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the programme focuses on sharpening operational readiness, standardising emergency responses and reinforcing freedom of navigation across the Indian Ocean Region.
High-Impact Drills at INS Garuda
A key highlight of the engagement occurred at INS Garuda, the naval air station in Kochi, where international crews observed and participated in a high-intensity water survival demonstration.
The demonstration took place at the Navy’s state-of-the-art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF). Established in August 2013 following lessons learned from a 2003 Sea King helicopter ditching accident, the facility remains one of the few specialised centres of its kind outside the United States and the United Kingdom.
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 addressed critical operational pillars necessary for maintaining maritime order across four core focus areas.
Focusing on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) domains, participants focused on tactically inspecting suspect vessels to curb smuggling, piracy and illegal maritime trafficking. For Water Survival and Emergency Escape, the programme emphasised mastering critical emergency procedures following helicopter ditching or ship abandonment at sea.
To enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), partner nations collaborate on sharing real-time regional vessel tracking data to prevent security breaches. Finally, in Practical Gunnery and Seamanship, personnel undergo hands-on practical exercises hosted at INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s premier gunnery school.
The visiting officers praised the world-class infrastructure of the Indian Navy. A Royal Navy officer emphasised that training in the Indian Ocean – a region of paramount strategic importance – helps build crucial trust and tactical coordination during international contingencies.
Strategic Significance for the Indian Ocean
As maritime trade routes face evolving security challenges, multinational engagements like Operation Southern Readiness build vital operational cohesion among global allies. By hosting CTF-154 initiatives, India reinforced its position as a preferred security partner and net security provider across the Indian Ocean Region.
