The Indian Navy and United States Navy have begun their specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala. The five-day bilateral exercise is being conducted from August 10 to August 14, 2026, bringing specialist diving and EOD teams from both navies together for professional exchanges and practical training.
Eighth Edition of the Bilateral Exercise
The 2026 exercise marks the eighth edition of the specialised India-US EOD engagement.
India and the United States have been conducting joint salvage and EOD exercises since 2005, making the latest exercise part of a long-running programme aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two navies.
Specialist Teams to Train Together
The exercise brings together personnel with expertise in diving and explosive ordnance disposal.
The programme includes:
- Subject Matter Expert Exchanges
- Cross-training sessions
- Equipment demonstrations
- Scenario-based practical exercises
- Exchange of operational procedures and best practices
These activities are designed to improve mutual understanding of the techniques, capabilities and operational approaches used by both navies.
Focus on Interoperability
A key objective of the exercise is to strengthen interoperability between Indian and American specialist teams.
By training together, personnel can become more familiar with each other’s procedures and operational concepts. This can be particularly valuable during complex maritime situations where specialised teams from different countries may need to coordinate their activities.
Emerging EOD Technologies in Focus
The exercise also provides an opportunity for both sides to exchange information about contemporary EOD methodologies, emerging technologies and equipment.
Equipment demonstrations and practical drills allow participating personnel to understand how different systems and procedures are used in specialised maritime operations.
Importance of Maritime EOD Training
Explosive Ordnance Disposal is a highly specialised area of naval operations involving the identification and safe handling of explosive hazards.
In maritime environments, specialist teams can face particularly challenging conditions, including underwater operations. This makes technical expertise, specialised diving capabilities and coordination especially important.
The exercise therefore focuses not only on theoretical exchanges but also on practical, scenario-based training.
Kochi Hosts the Exercise
The exercise is being conducted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, which serves as the Indian Navy’s Training Command.
The location provides an appropriate setting for a programme combining technical discussions, cross-training, equipment demonstrations and practical exercises.
Part of Expanding India-US Defence Cooperation
The EOD exercise comes amid broader growth in India-US maritime and defence cooperation.
The two navies regularly engage through bilateral and multilateral exercises covering different aspects of maritime operations.
Specialised exercises such as the EOD programme complement larger naval exercises by focusing on highly trained personnel and niche operational capabilities.
Exercise Continues Until August 14
The five-day programme will continue through August 14.
During the exercise, participating teams will exchange expertise, conduct practical drills and work toward improving coordination in specialised maritime operations.
The latest edition reinforces the long-term professional relationship between the Indian Navy and US Navy and highlights the growing importance of specialised training in bilateral maritime cooperation.
Source: Indian Ministry of Defence updates and reports published August 10, 2026.
Original Report: The Indian Navy and US Navy have begun their eighth bilateral EOD exercise at Southern Naval Command, Kochi, with the five-day programme running from August 10 to 14.
Supreme News Network
