Indian Navy, US Navy to Begin EOD Exercise 2026 in Kochi on August 10

The Indian Navy and the United States Navy will begin the eighth edition of their bilateral Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise at Kochi’s Southern Naval Command on August 10, with specialist diving and EOD teams from both sides set to train together for five days.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Navy–US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 2026 will run from August 10 to 14. The engagement is intended to deepen interoperability between the two navies and expand professional cooperation in the highly specialised domain of explosive ordnance disposal.

The programme will bring together specialist personnel for a mix of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-training activities, equipment demonstrations and scenario-based practical exercises. Through these interactions, the two navies aim to improve their ability to operate together while sharing expertise drawn from their respective operational experience.

The exercise is designed to give Indian and American personnel a clearer understanding of each other’s capabilities, operational concepts and employment philosophies. Such familiarity can be important when specialist teams from partner navies need to coordinate during complex maritime contingencies.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal is a technically demanding field that involves identifying, assessing and safely handling or neutralising explosive hazards. In the maritime environment, these tasks can extend to challenging underwater conditions, making specialist diving proficiency and advanced equipment critical to operations.

Officials said the Kochi engagement will emphasise collaborative learning and practical application. The scenario-based drills are expected to place participating teams in realistic training situations, allowing them to test procedures, compare approaches and identify areas where coordination can be improved further.

Equipment demonstrations are also part of the schedule, giving personnel an opportunity to study the systems and technologies used by their counterparts. With EOD capabilities continuing to evolve alongside advances in sensors, robotics, diving equipment and other specialised technologies, these exchanges are expected to contribute to operational effectiveness.

The Ministry of Defence said the interaction would enable both navies to exchange contemporary EOD methodologies, discuss emerging technologies and share best practices developed through their own operational experience. The broader aim is to help personnel refine procedures, strengthen mutual understanding and improve their ability to respond effectively to increasingly complex EOD challenges.

The upcoming edition in Kochi is also part of a longer-running bilateral training framework. The Indian Navy and the US Navy have been conducting joint Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercises since 2005, and this year’s engagement will be the eighth edition of that specialised series.

Over the years, these exercises have provided recurring opportunities for specialist personnel from both navies to exchange operational expertise and become familiar with each other’s techniques, procedures and equipment. The continuity of the exercise reflects the importance both sides place on sustained professional interaction in niche operational areas.

The Kochi exercise comes amid broader maritime cooperation between India and the United States, with the two navies engaging across multiple formats and operational areas. Specialised engagements such as the EOD exercise complement larger naval drills by focusing on small groups of highly trained personnel and on capabilities where technical precision, common procedures and mutual familiarity are especially important.

Southern Naval Command, which serves as the Indian Navy’s Training Command, provides the setting for this year’s edition. The command’s role makes Kochi a suitable venue for a programme built around technical discussions, practical instruction and scenario-driven training.

The exercise will conclude on August 14 after five days of professional exchanges and hands-on training. As the eighth edition of a cooperation mechanism in place for more than two decades, the Indian Navy–US Navy EOD Exercise 2026 continues a specialised bilateral effort focused on interoperability, operational learning and coordination in maritime explosive ordnance disposal.