Indian Navy Hosts Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 in Kochi

#GS-3 #Defence #National #International #Maritime Security

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The **Ministry of Defence** announced that the **Indian Navy** will host **Operation Southern Readiness 26-2** in **Kochi**, **Kerala**. This event is a **four-day** multinational maritime security training engagement.

**Operation Southern Readiness 26-2** is a high-level multinational maritime security training engagement. It combines classroom teaching, simulator exercises, and real sea deployment to build uniform tactical skills among partner navies.
The **Indian Navy** hosts this training initiative at the **Southern Naval Command (SNC)** located in **Kochi**, **Kerala**.
The exercise is organized in partnership with the **Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)**, a global maritime coalition with over **40** member nations.

The **Indian Navy** leads **CTF 154** to coordinate maritime specialists from more than **40** **CMF** member countries to share best operational practices.
Dedicated training modules cover **Maritime Law**, **Counter-Narcotics** operations, force protection, and techniques to counter asymmetric security threats.
The engagement focuses on **Maritime Uncrewed Systems**, including aerial drones and **Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)**, to improve automated threat tracking.
Participants will use advanced simulators at the **Southern Naval Command** for immersive navigation and tactical coordination practice.
Sailors will complete practical training on **Indian Navy** warships, focusing on high-risk boarding procedures, damage control, firefighting, and survival at sea.

This initiative highlights the **Indian Navy**'s modern training facilities, strengthening India's position as a global center for maritime capacity building.
It boosts coordination, information exchange, and joint operations among partner navies to fight piracy, smuggling, and other ocean security threats.