The sea phase of MILAN-2024 came to an impressive conclusion on February 27th, highlighted by a grand ceremony held aboard the Indian Navy's INS Vikrant.

This year's edition of MILAN saw the active participation of 35 units, comprising ships, submarines, and aircraft.

Notably, 13 ships and an aircraft from Friendly Foreign Countries also took part in the sea phase, signifying the event's international cooperation and camaraderie.

Among the Indian Navy's impressive fleet, both the renowned aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous INS Vikrant, showcased their prowess during the exercises.

Throughout the sea phase, all participating units engaged in a series of intricate and advanced drills covering surface, sub-surface, and air warfare domains.0

These exercises encompassed various scenarios, including combatting asymmetric threats, surface firings, anti-air shoots, anti-submarine warfare maneuvers alongside Indian Navy submarines, air defense drills against fighter jets, ship-borne helicopter operations, and seamanship evolutions such as mid-sea refueling from Indian Navy tankers.

The climax of the sea phase was marked by a memorable closing ceremony, where all 35 participating units rendezvoused at anchorage off Visakhapatnam.

Commanding officers gathered aboard the INS Vikrant, the pride of indigenous naval engineering, for insightful discussions and reflections on the operational aspects of the sea phase.

The ceremony provided a platform for navies from different nations to engage in debrief sessions, fostering interaction, exchanging views, and bolstering mutual understanding and interoperability through the sharing of experiences and best practices.