India-US Forces Execute High-Impact Sea Phase of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 Off Kakinada Coast
Bengaluru, April 13. The sea phase of the bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 culminated with a spectacular display of joint operational prowess off the coast of Kakinada. The final phase, held from April 8 to 13, marked a successful continuation of Indo-US defense cooperation, bringing together the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and their US counterparts for complex amphibious and maritime operations.
A highlight of this phase was the Distinguished Visitors (DV) Day, witnessed by Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, FOTNA, Rear Admiral Gregory D Newkirk, Commander, CTF 70, Brig Maheshwar Singh, Deputy, General Officer Commanding, Bison Division, Brig Anurag Upadhyaya, Commander Amphibious Brigade, Ms Jennifer Larson, US Consulate General and other senior dignitaries. The DV Day underscored the seamless interoperability and jointmanship between the two nations’ armed forces.
The sea phase commenced with the US Army 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment of 11th Arctic Airborne Division and Indian Army’s 4/8 Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion Group, part of the Amphibious Brigade under the Bison Division of Sudarshan Chakra Corps, spearheading vital land operations. Demonstrating high mobility and precision, troops executed Mobile Vehicle Check Posts, Room Intervention, House Clearing Drills and Road Opening Patrols, creating a secure corridor for the launch of beaching operations.
These ground operations set the stage for a coordinated amphibious assault by joint forces from INS Jalashwa and USS Comstock from LCMs and LCACs. In a high-intensity live demonstration, US Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) and Indian Army BMPs surged past simulated enemy defences, securing the flanks and enabling a rapid build-up of combat power on the beach.
Heliborne operations by Indian Navy MARCOS, US Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Gorkhas’ Ghatak platoon of the Indian Army further enhanced operational depth. Swift aerial insertion behind enemy lines added a critical special operations element to the exercise, showcasing the precision and agility of combined airborne capabilities.
The Land Forces Commander provided a detailed operational brief to the visiting dignitaries at the Joint Control and Operations Centre (JCOC), highlighting the strategic coordination, integrated planning and real-time decision-making involved in the complex scenario.
As part of the HADR module, the Indian Army established a meticulously planned Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp near the landing zone. Fully equipped with medical, sanitation and relief facilities, the camp exemplified India’s readiness to provide humanitarian support during crisis situations, earning high praise from the visiting officials.
Spanning from April 1 to 13, Tiger Triumph 2025 has once again demonstrated the shared commitment of India and the United States to regional stability, humanitarian coordination, and defense cooperation. The culmination of the sea phase at Kakinada stands as a testament to the enduring partnership, operational synergy and collective resolve of both nations in responding to real-world contingencies in the Indian Ocean Region.
