The 12th MILAN naval exercise will be held in Visakhapatnam.

The Indian Navy is poised to host the 12th edition of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27, 2024. Being conducted biennially, MILAN brings together naval forces from over 50 countries in a significant demonstration of cooperative strategies for maritime security.

With its theme “Camaraderie Cohesion Collaboration”. The extensive participation underscores the universal recognition that maintaining open seas demands shared responsibility.

Spread across the Harbour Phase from February 19-23 for seminars, discussions and cultural exchanges, followed by combat exercises during the Sea Phase from February 24-27, MILAN 2024 promises to be an impressive showcase of naval prowess and interoperability.

Overview of MILAN Naval Exercise

History

Initiated in 1995 with just four participating nations, MILAN has evolved into a premier multilateral forum engaging over 50 global navies. The Indian Navy has hosted it biennially since 2003, with the last edition held in 2018 at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Objectives

The key goals include:

Strengthening regional cooperation for maritime security

Developing common understanding of procedures for humanitarian aid and disaster relief

Advancing naval operational synergies through professional interaction and interoperability drills

Sharing best practices on various aspects of naval operations, technology uses, systems administration etc.

Promoting cultural exchanges and camaraderie among participating nations

Format

Conducted over 9 days, MILAN comprises two phases:

• Harbour Phase: Seminars, discussions, demonstrations, and cultural programs
• Sea Phase: At-sea exercises testing combat and tactical capabilities

Significance

MILAN holds major geostrategic significance for India to consolidate strategic ties and advance maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region amid an increasingly assertive China.

Harbour Phase Activities: 19-23 February

International City Parade (ICP)

The Harbor Phase commences with the spectacular International City Parade (ICP) in Visakhapatnam on February 19, showcasing Indian naval prowess and cultural diversity across contingents.

Modelled on the Republic Day Parade in Delhi, this event allows each participating country to exhibit their native naval traditions and maritime heritage.

Maritime Exhibition

A maritime technology exhibition is being organized from February 20-23 to demonstrate innovations in naval systems, oceanology, marine engineering, etc. It serves as an interactive platform for engagement between global technology providers and navies.

Milan Village

Based on the theme “An Ode to Friendship”, a dedicated Milan Village has been erected as a cultural exchange hub. It hosts food stalls, handicrafts, artifacts, photo galleries etc offering a glimpse into the uniqueness of each nation.

International Maritime Seminar (IMS)

A high-level International Maritime Seminar is scheduled on February 21 around the central theme of "Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future". Eminent speakers from partner nations will discuss strategies to address contemporary maritime security challenges through cooperation.

Professional Exchanges

Dedicated Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and Table Top Exercises will facilitate sharing of best practices between navies on critical areas like aviation operations, medicine, pollution control etc while honing planning skills.

Sea Phase Activities: 24-27 February

The Sea Phase from February 24-27 will witness extensive combat exercises and operational drills offshore involving all participating navies and aircraft to build interoperability across high-intensity naval missions:

Surface Warfare

Surface ships will engage in maneuvers like cross-deck helicopter operations, underway replenishment, joint patrolling etc. to hone coordination. They will also participate in simulated missile and gun firing drills against hypothetical enemy vessels.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Naval contingents will conduct advanced anti-submarine exercises to perfect detection and prosecution of adversary submarines using helicopters, long-range sensors and counter-attack procedures.

Air Defence

Ships will integrate air operations with fighter jets, surveillance aircrafts and helicopters to practice coordinated tactics against aerial threats through complex air defence maneuvers.

Underway Replenishment

Logistics expertise for sustaining longer deployment periods will be enhanced through simulated underway replenishment drills transferring fuel, cargo and personnel between ships via support tankers while underway.

Weapon Firing

Live-fire drills of guns, missiles and torpedoes will be conducted on specially deployed target ships and aerial drones to evaluate precision strike capabilities.

Way Forward

As a pioneering naval initiative catalyzing the spirit of friendly cooperation, MILAN has grown into an instrument of regional stability and trust-building. MILAN 2024 will take Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation to new heights by expanding interoperability across critical combat missions, cementing strategic ties and revitalizing cultural bonds through extensive people-to-people interaction. It will stand out as a manifestation of the Indian Navy’s growing prominence as the Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean while harmonizing collective efforts to guarantee secure and open seas globally.