Indian Navy to Host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 in Kochi

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 is a multinational maritime security training engagement scheduled at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi from 20 to 23 July 2026. The Indian Navy will conduct the four-day exercise with the Combined Maritime Forces under Combined Task Force 154, which functions as the CMF’s dedicated training task force.

Combined Maritime Forces and CTF 154

The Combined Maritime Forces is a multinational naval partnership that works on maritime security in key sea lanes. Combined Task Force 154 is one of its task forces and focuses on training, professional development, and operational coordination among partner navies.

Participating Navies and Training Modules

The exercise will involve personnel from about 25 to 47 CMF partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Djibouti, Seychelles, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The training programme will include classroom instruction, simulator-based modules, and practical exercises aboard an Indian Naval ship.

• Maritime law is a core subject in naval cooperation and covers legal rules for navigation, security, and conduct at sea.
• Maritime domain awareness refers to the monitoring of activities, vessels, and threats in the maritime environment.
• Counter-narcotics operations are naval and coast guard actions against illegal drug trafficking at sea.
• Maritime uncrewed systems include unmanned platforms used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and other naval tasks.

Indian Navy Command and Kochi Facility

The Indian Navy assumed command of CTF 154 in February 2026. Commodore Milind M. Mokashi became the first Indian naval officer to lead a Combined Maritime Forces task force. The Southern Naval Command in Kochi is one of the Indian Navy’s major training commands and houses advanced training infrastructure.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Southern Naval Command is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, and serves as a major training command of the Indian Navy.
• The Combined Maritime Forces is a multinational naval partnership focused on maritime security and stability.
• Combined Task Force 154 is the CMF’s dedicated training task force.
• Damage control, firefighting, survival at sea, and boarding procedures are standard naval training subjects.

Maritime Security Concepts

Force protection is a naval term for measures that reduce threats to personnel, ships, and installations. Asymmetric threats at sea include irregular attacks, piracy, sabotage, and other non-traditional security risks.