Indian, US Navies Complete Five-Day Exercise In Kochi

KOCHI-The Indian and US Navies have concluded the eighth edition of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 2026 after five days of intensive professional interaction and joint training at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, the Ministry of Defense said on August 17.

The bilateral exercise concluded on August 14 and featured professional exchanges, sharing of best practices and demonstrations by EOD teams from both navies.

The exercise provided a platform for the two navies to share expertise on various aspects of EOD operations. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges covered real-time threats from Improvised Explosive Devices, render-safe procedures, mine neutralization and the employment of unmanned underwater systems.

The cross-training phase included diving exercises involving wreck location and salvage, the use of specialist equipment and slithering operations.

The exercise comes amid expanding operational cooperation between the Indian and US Navies across specialized maritime operations and multinational exercises.

Last month, the Indian Navy took on the role of Deputy Commander Task Force for Theatre-level Anti-Submarine Warfare during the Rim of the Pacific 2026 maritime exercise in Hawaii, marking the first time it assumed the position during the exercise. (IANS)