New Delhi: indian navy Visakhapatnam will host the International Fleet Review (IFR) and Exercise Milan from February 15 to 25, which will mark a defining moment in India’s maritime story, with the “City of Destiny” once again becoming the centerpiece of India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.Navy sources said that this year’s “Instrument Flight Rules” and “Milan” exercises are larger in scale and more far-reaching. The navies of 72 countries including the United States and Russia will participate. More than 60 warships and naval aircraft from three countries will participate in this large-scale joint naval event. The IFR will position India’s east coast as a focal point for naval diplomacy and multilateral maritime engagement. Warships and assets from Germany, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates participated for the first time, including the Philippines’ BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) and the UAE Navy warship Al Emarat. India has been using instrument flight rules and opening its ports to allied navies since 2001 to demonstrate maritime power, promote international cooperation and establish its role in blue water operations.
The naval star of Operation Sindoor, the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, will be the focus of the fleet review. The INS Vikrant carrier battle group deployed in the northern Arabian Sea played a key role in the coercion strategy, thereby forcing the Pakistan Navy to a defensive posture and demanding an emergency ceasefire. For IFR, it will sail to the Bay of Bengal. China and Türkiye have not yet been invited to the event, a decision reportedly linked to the two countries’ military support for Pakistan during last May’s conflict.President Droupadi Murmu, Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu will attend the IFR on February 18 and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will attend Milan-2026 on February 19.MILAN 26 will bring together navies from friendly nations to strengthen professional ties, share best practices and enhance maritime cooperation. Milan’s maritime and port phase will focus on interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defense and search and rescue operations.Notably, IFR will be held concurrently with the Chiefs Conclave of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, showcasing India’s convening power in the disputed region. In addition to warships at sea, the International City Parade will bring naval camaraderie to the streets, while high-level maritime seminars will enhance the intellectual edge of the gathering. These events are expected to elevate IFR and MILAN 2026 beyond ceremony, transforming them into platforms for strategic dialogue, operational trust and lasting people-to-people contact.Technology will feature prominently at IFR 2026, but there is a clear lesson: technology amplifies capabilities, but governance shapes effects. Drones, autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, and artificial intelligence-powered maritime domain awareness tools can expand the reach of small fleets.Ship reviews are a time-honored naval tradition that bring together ships and sailors from friendly foreign navies as a platform to build trust, mutual respect and familiarity with operations.ending
