Exercise MILAN is India's biennial multinational naval exercise, first held in 1995 with four navies. By 2026 it included 40-plus nations and was hosted at Visakhapatnam alongside the International Fleet Review 2026.Source: Indian Navy

Which Iranian warships attended Exercise MILAN 2026?

IRIS Dena and IRIS Bushehr participated in Exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam days before the Iran-Israel-US conflict began. Both ships were transiting home when war broke out.Source: Bloomberg

What happened to IRIS Dena after Exercise MILAN?

IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine torpedo 40 nautical miles from Sri Lankan waters while transiting home from Exercise MILAN, becoming the first US torpedo kill of an enemy warship since 1945.Source: US Pentagon

Background

Exercise MILAN (Multilateral Indian-Led Assurance in Navigation) is India's premier biennial multinational naval exercise, founded in 1995 with four participating navies. Hosted by the Indian Navy, it has grown to include more than 40 nations and typically takes place at Visakhapatnam or in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The 2026 edition was held concurrently with the International Fleet Review 2026 at Visakhapatnam.

Two Iranian warships, IRIS Dena and the IRIS Bushehr, joined the exercise days before the Iran-Israel-US conflict erupted. IRIS Dena was subsequently sunk by a US submarine torpedo 40 nautical miles from Sri Lankan waters while transiting home, the first US torpedo kill of an enemy warship since 1945. Sri Lanka later interned the IRIS Bushehr under the Hague Convention.

The exercise placed Indian diplomacy at the centre of an awkward question: India had hosted Iranian warships under a banner of multilateral cooperation, only for those same ships to become casualties and internees days later. India's explicit doctrine of Indian Ocean primacy now faces scrutiny, as a US submarine struck within waters Narendra Modi's government considers its strategic sphere.

More questions

How does Exercise MILAN differ from the International Fleet Review?

Exercise MILAN is an operational naval exercise with tactical drills among participating navies; the International Fleet Review 2026 was a ceremonial parade of assembled fleets. Both were held at Visakhapatnam in early 2026.Source: Indian Navy

Did Exercise MILAN cause a diplomatic crisis for India?

India's hosting of Iranian warships at MILAN created direct pressure on Prime Minister Modi after IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine in waters India regards as its strategic sphere, raising questions about India's Indian Ocean primacy doctrine.Source: Bloomberg