Indian Navy ships Sahyadri, Kulish conclude participation in ASEAN-India maritime exercise
New Delhi, Oct 3. Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish have concluded their participation in the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2026) held in the Philippines, strengthening operational coordination and interoperability between the participating maritime forces.
Conducted under the theme ‘Anchored in Trust, United at Sea’, the exercise comprised Harbour and Sea Phases, providing participating navies opportunities for professional interaction, maritime training and coordinated operations.
The Harbour Phase began with the opening ceremony and featured a series of engagements, including key leaders’ interactions, sporting events, yoga sessions, community outreach programmes and subject matter expert exchanges.
A Table-Top Exercise, operational synchronisation activities and a pre-sail briefing were also conducted to facilitate greater coordination and prepare the participating forces for the Sea Phase.
During the Sea Phase, Sahyadri and Kulish took part in a range of coordinated maritime drills, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS) and Underway Replenishment exercises.
The ships also participated in helicopter operations involving cross-deck landings, vertical replenishment and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) drills. The exercises were aimed at enhancing operational coordination, mutual understanding and interoperability among the participating maritime forces.
The Harbour and Sea Phases of AIME 2026 contributed to strengthening mutual trust and maritime partnerships among India and the participating ASEAN countries.
The Indian Navy’s participation also underscored its continued commitment to strengthening engagement with partner maritime forces in line with India’s Act East Policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
