Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 began at Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on 20 July 2026, opening a four day multinational maritime security training engagement that has brought together 254 participants from 26 countries. The Southern Naval Command is hosting the engagement under the aegis of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154, in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces. It is the first time the exercise has run in India.

Seventy four facilitators, four international organisations and a panel of subject matter experts are supporting the four days.

Operation Southern Readiness comes ashore in India

Earlier editions of Southern Readiness were run by CTF 154 in the Seychelles. Bringing it to Kochi is the maiden conduct of Operation Southern Readiness on Indian soil, and it follows the Indian Navy taking over CTF 154 in February 2026, when Cmde Milind M Mokashi assumed charge as Commander at CMF headquarters in Manama.

CTF 154 is the dedicated training task force of the Combined Maritime Forces, a naval partnership of more than 40 nations that works across some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Its focus is capacity building rather than combat. CTF 154 runs multinational training in maritime awareness, maritime law, interdiction, rescue and assistance, and leadership development, tailored to what each partner navy asks for.

The opening ceremony

Cmde Milind M Mokashi, Commander CTF 154, gave the opening remarks. The inaugural address came from Cmde Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces. RAdm Deepak Singhal, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters Southern Naval Command, delivered the keynote. All three turned on professional training, shared learning and multinational cooperation against present day maritime threats.

Day one on ship management

The opening day was built around ship management and special training. A session run by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime walked participants through maritime security threats in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean, waters where the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme has worked for years.

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Simulators and practical exposure

Classroom work gave way to hands-on exposure on ship handling, navigation, astro navigation, maritime distress communication systems, and damage control and firefighting. Participants trained on the Indian Navy's simulators and associated training infrastructure at Kochi. The Southern Naval Command is the Navy's principal training command, and that infrastructure is a large part of why the engagement was brought here this year.

The remaining three days carry professional sessions, simulator-based training and practical activities across the main strands of contemporary maritime security. The Navy has framed the Kochi conduct as confirmation of its standing as a preferred security and training partner in the region.

Kochi as a training hub

Kochi has had a busy month. The base saw the commissioning of INS Malvan, the latest Mahe class anti-submarine warfare craft, and the arrival of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Navy's Romeo fleet. Operation Southern Readiness adds a multinational training footprint to that run, alongside the Navy's overseas deployments this year, among them RIMPAC 2026 in the Pacific.