50 navies descend on Vizag as crucial MILAN 2024 begins
The largest ever naval exercise aims to enhance security and safety of maritime commerce for global prosperity
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MILAN 2024
- Dates: February 19-27, 2024, hosted by Eastern Naval Command
- Exercise focus: Sharing ideas, enhancing security and ensuring maritime commerce safety
- Aircraft carriers Vikrant & Vikramaditya, 20 ships, 50 aircraft to represent India
- Vice President, Defense Minister, and Andhra Pradesh Governor expected to attend
Visakhapatnam: With 90 per cent global trade routed through ocean shipping, the twelfth edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise (MILAN) being hosted by Eastern Naval Command of Indian Navy from Monday assumes significance.
The volume of cargo through oceans has more than doubled from four to 11 billion tonnes in a span of three decades as per estimates made in 2021. The future growth of the global economy is being attributed to ocean wealth and sea-borne traffic. The Sunrise Command of the Indian Navy on Sunday accorded a warm welcome to USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer of the United States Navy, to the City of Destiny, for participation in MILAN 2024.
“May the visit be filled with productive exchanges and strengthen our joint defence partnership,” the Indian Navy said in a message.
The largest ever naval exercise, from February 19 to 27 is attracting participation from navies representing over 50 friendly countries, which are sending their delegations. As many as 15 ships and one maritime patrol aircraft from friendly foreign countries are participating in the sea exercise. From the Indian Navy, nearly 20 ships including aircraft carriers Vikrant and Vikramaditya and nearly 50 aircraft including MiG 29K and P8I will participate.
The City of Destiny has been put on high alert with the presence of a host of high ranking dignitaries heading for the city. Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Governor Justice S Abdul Nazeer are scheduled to witness the proceedings. A MILAN village is being developed near Samudrika Naval Auditorium here. An International Naval Parade on the beach road is a special attraction for the public during the biennial exercise. A naval spokesperson said on X, “The 12th edition of the #MILAN exercise to be held at #Visakhapatnam 19-27 Feb aims to provide a platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance #security on the high seas and ensure safety of #maritime commerce for growth and prosperity of all.”
It will showcase the essence of collaboration and cooperation among the friendly navies. Highlights of the harbour phase from February 19 to 23 will include the international city parade, international maritime seminar, Milan tech expo, MILAN village, subject matter expert exchange and table top exercise. During the sea phase, participating navies will conduct advanced air defence, anti submarine and anti surface warfare drills. Gunnery shoots on aerial and surface targets, manoeuvres and underway replenishment would also be conducted.
“MILAN would be an excellent platform for the participating navies to share ideas to enhance security on the high seas and ensure the safety of maritime commerce for the growth and prosperity of all. The sea exercise would enhance interoperability, enable exchange of best practices and will boost confidence to undertake missions together in the future, to tackle common challenges,” the Indian Navy stated in a curtain-raiser communique.
