Global Navies To Unite At India’s Eastern Seaboard During International Fleet Review, MILAN 2026 In Vishakhapatnam
Besides the exercise Millan and the IFR, the city will also host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). Image courtesy: RNA
India is preparing to host one of its most significant naval event – the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 – at Visakhapatnam in the coming days, marking a major milestone in the Indian Navy’s global outreach and maritime diplomacy. The prestigious event will see warships, submarines and naval aircraft from around 70 countries assemble off India’s eastern seaboard.
President Droupadi Murmu will review the fleet, making this only the third IFR hosted by India, after earlier editions in 2001 and 2016. The mega event will mark a key step in operationalising the Hon’ble PM’s vision of MAHASAGAR, while highlighting India’s indigenous naval capabilities.
Worth mentioning here is that India will host 3 major international maritime events this month at Visakhapatnam, namely the IFR 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs, from February 15 to 25, 2026.
INS Vikrant to be the centre of global attention
At the heart of IFR-2026 will be INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier and a symbol of the country’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing. As the centrepiece of the fleet review, INS Vikrant is expected to showcase India’s aircraft carrier capabilities, indigenous shipbuilding expertise and evolving blue-water navy ambitions to visiting global navies.
Beginning a day after the IFR, Exercise Milan-2026 will be among the largest multilateral maritime exercises in the region, running from February 19 to 26. Set to be conducted in the Bay of Bengal, the exercise will involve complex, high-tempo operations designed to enhance interoperability among participating navies.
The drills will unfold in two phases:
Harbour Phase (February 19–20): Professional exchanges, planning interactions and coordination activities.
Sea Phase (February 21–25): Advanced anti-submarine warfare drills, air operations, surface combat exercises and dynamic multi-domain maritime manoeuvres.
Why is global participation in Milan 2026 important?
The exercise will see an unprecedented mix of navies, including the United States, Russia, Iran, Japan and Australia, operating together in a multilateral framework. Notably, Quad partners India, the US, Japan and Australia will participate alongside other major maritime players, reinforcing Milan’s role as a confidence-building platform.
The February 2026 convergence is a major operational manifestation of this vision, demonstrating India’s commitment to being a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ for all friends and partners, Indian Navy said.
How does IONS 2026 elevate India’s naval leadership?
Adding to the scale of the maritime engagement, Visakhapatnam will also host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs from February 15 to 25. During the conclave, the Indian Navy will assume the chairmanship of IONS for 2025–2027, a key leadership role in shaping regional maritime cooperation.
The conclave will bring together Naval Chiefs from 25 member nations, 9 observers and invited countries, focusing on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and information sharing across the Indian Ocean Region.
An International Maritime Seminar will be held alongside the naval events, bringing together maritime strategists, defence officials, academics and industry leaders. Discussions will centre on maritime collaboration, emerging naval technologies, defence industrial partnerships and humanitarian response mechanisms.
Why are these exercise crucial for India’s maritime future?
Taken together, IFR-2026, Milan-2026 and the IONS Conclave represent a comprehensive demonstration of India’s naval capability, diplomatic reach and leadership in maritime security. The events are expected to strengthen partnerships, boost interoperability and reinforce India’s vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Further, they will also reflect India’s commitment to free, open and inclusive seas, anchored in strategic frameworks including MAHASAGAR, the Act East Policy, IONS, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
