The fleet review will feature Operation Sindoor’s naval star, the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The carrier played a key role in fending off the Pakistan Navy during the 2025 operation, when it was deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea
India is all set to host two major maritime security events in Vishakhapatnam, in a move to showcase the country’s naval prowess on a global stage. The International Fleet Review (IFR) and Exercise MILAN will be held in Vishakhapatnam from February 15 to 25 and navies from over 70 countries are expected to participate in the events.
The fleet review will feature Operation Sindoor’s naval star, the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The carrier played a key role in fending off the Pakistan Navy during the 2025 operation, when it was deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea.
As part of the IFR, the fleet will sail to the Bay of Bengal. China and Turkey have not been invited to attend, a decision reportedly tied to their military support for Pakistan during last May’s conflict.
President Droupadi Murmu, Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu are expected to attend the IFR, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will participate in the Milan exercise.
What will happen at the events?
MILAN 26 will convene navies from friendly foreign nations to deepen professional ties, exchange best practices, and boost maritime cooperation. The exercise’s harbour and sea phases will emphasise interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.
Meanwhile, IFR 2026 is a platform that will feature technology prominently, but will give an equally important stage to governance. Unmanned aerial systems, autonomous surface and underwater vessels, and AI-powered maritime domain awareness technologies can significantly extend the operational reach of even a relatively small fleet.
Which countries are participating?
1. Seychelles
2. Indonesia
3. Maldives
4. Thailand
5. Oman
6. Iranian Ship
7. Republic of Korea Navy
8. Australia
9. Japan
10. Myanmar
11. Vietnam
12. UAE
13. Malaysia
14. South Africa
15. Russian Navy
16. Australia
17. Bangladesh
18. Sri Lanka
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