Tiger Triumph 2026, the fifth edition of the India-US tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise, opened at the Maritime Warfare Centre in Visakhapatnam on Monday, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) taking part for the first time.

The exercise is being held as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) this year. According to the Ministry of Defence, the focus is on planning and coordination for large-scale HADR operations, with the aim of improving joint planning and interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and Rear Admiral Joaquin J Martinez de Pinillos, Vice Commander, US Pacific Fleet.

"Exercise Tiger Triumph gives practical expression to this relationship by bringing together complementary capabilities of our armed forces in demanding humanitarian assistance and disaster response settings," Rear Admiral Bishnoi said. He described the partnership as one built on mutual trust, professional respect and an expanding range of defence engagements.

NDRF joins Tiger Triumph 2026 for the first time

The NDRF comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is India's specialist force for disaster response. A team from the force will take part in this edition, the ministry said, the first time it has joined the series.

Its entry brings a civilian disaster response agency into an exercise that has so far been built around the armed forces of the two countries.

Indian Navy, Army and Air Force send specialists to Visakhapatnam

The Indian side at Tiger Triumph 2026 comprises specialists from all domains of maritime operations from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army and representatives from various units of the Indian Air Force. Special Forces personnel from all three Services are also participating.

The ministry said the edition aims to facilitate Combined Joint All-Domain Operations, in line with the maritime interests the two countries share.

US Joint Force brings space, cyber and medical specialists

The US Joint Force is made up of specialist representatives from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, along with specialists in space, cyber, medical work and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

"Tiger Triumph represents the growing strength, sophistication, and shared commitment of the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership," Rear Admiral Martinez de Pinillos said.

"Our bilateral training reinforces our shared commitment to regional stability, refines our combined operational coordination, and prepares our forces to rapidly respond to crises and natural disasters in the region," he added.

Tiger Triumph began in 2019 as first India-US tri-service exercise

The series started in 2019 as the first tri-service exercise between India and the United States. Until then, India had held tri-service exercises only with Russia. The opening ceremony of that first edition was held aboard INS Jalashwa, with the USS Germantown and troops of the 3rd Marine Division on the American side.

Recent editions have been large field events. The 2024 edition opened with the arrival of the USS Somerset at Visakhapatnam. The 2025 edition, held on the Eastern Seaboard from 1 to 13 April, involved around 3,000 personnel, at least four ships and seven aircraft, and worked on a standard operating procedure for a Combined Coordination Centre. The US Space Force also joined that year for the first time.

Tiger Triumph 2026 follows busy autumn of India-US engagement

The opening comes days after the Defence Minister met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at Cebu to mark one year of the ten year defence framework signed in October 2025. The two armies fired together at Mahajan in September, during a Yudh Abhyas demonstration watched by US Ambassador Sergio Gor.

Visakhapatnam is home to the Eastern Naval Command, and the commander of its Eastern Fleet served as overall force commander for the first Tiger Triumph.

The programme will integrate staff planning, all-domain tabletop exercises and specialised command, control, cyber and space synchronisation, the US Navy said, along with subject matter expert exchanges, community outreach and cultural events.