Exercise INDRA 2026 will see the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy train together in Russia's Far East next week. INS Sahyadri, the Indian frigate taking part, arrived at Vladivostok on Saturday.

The exercise is scheduled from 13 to 18 October, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Exercise INDRA 2026 opens with a harbour phase

The first days will be spent in harbour, with professional interactions between the two navies. The ships then move out to sea for coordinated operational activities. The ministry said the programme includes a range of maritime evolutions aimed at better mutual understanding, operational coordination and interoperability. A list of drills for this edition has not been given, which is usual for an arrival announcement. Those details normally follow once the sea phase begins.

Crews will also meet away from work. Social and cultural events are planned so that personnel of both navies can build personal ties and camaraderie, the ministry said.

INS Sahyadri berths at the Russian Pacific Fleet's home port

Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan, is the main base of Russia's Pacific Fleet. Russian officers received the ship at the jetty.

INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai and commissioned in 2012. It reaches Russia after a busy September in the Philippines. The ship arrived at Subic Bay on 20 September with INS Kulish for the ADMM-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity on maritime security. Both ships then stayed on for the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, AIME-2026, which opened at Subic Bay later that month.

INDRA was last held off Chennai in 2025

The 14th edition took place in March and April 2025, at and off Chennai. INS Rana and INS Kuthar, along with a P8I maritime patrol aircraft, sailed with two Russian corvettes and a Russian tanker in the Bay of Bengal. That sea phase covered tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air drills, underway replenishment and helicopter cross-deck landings.

This year the exercise moves to Russian waters. The INDRA series began in 2003.

Exercise INDRA 2026 follows the December 2025 India-Russia summit

The Ministry of Defence linked the deployment to MAHASAGAR, the government's vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It also said the visit carries forward the momentum from the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi on 4 and 5 December 2025, and builds on the long defence and maritime partnership between the two countries.

Military contacts have stayed steady since. Last month the Army Chief, General Dhiraj Seth, made an official visit to Russia and held talks at the Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow.

INS Trishul is with the Royal Navy the same week

Exercise INDRA 2026 is not the only bilateral exercise the Indian Navy has under way this month. On the other side of the world, INS Trishul is at Plymouth for Exercise Konkan 2026 with the Royal Navy, which runs from 8 to 15 October.