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

The Indian Navy and the US Navy are teaming up for a specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise. Starting August 10 and running through August 14, 2026, the drill will take place at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The goal is to get the two navies' diving and EOD specialists working more closely together, sharpening their coordination and professional ties.

Indian Navy-US Navy Five-day explosive ordnance disposal exercise 2026

Over five days, specialist teams from both navies will run through 

1. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges 
2. Cross-training sessions 
3. Equipment demonstrations 
4. Scenario-based practical drills 

The format is meant to let both sides swap notes on current EOD methods, newer technologies, and best practices. Just as importantly, it gives each navy a real look at how the other operates: their capabilities, their thinking, and their approach to handling explosive threats at sea.

The Exercise Is Designed to Promote Collaborative Learning and Operational Synergy

At its core, this exercise isn't a one-off training session — it's about building lasting synergy. By working side by side, personnel from both navies get the chance to fine-tune their procedures, understand each other's methods better, and build up their collective readiness for EOD situations that keep growing more complex. That kind of shared learning tends to pay off well beyond the five days it takes place.

Indian Navy-US Navy EOD Exercise is the 8th edition of a specialised bilateral exercise

India and the US have been running joint Salvage and EOD exercises together since 2005, and the 2026 edition marks the eighth time they've done this specific drill. 

That two-decade-plus track record says something about how seriously both sides take this partnership; it's a steady, ongoing commitment to staying interoperable and sharing expertise in specialised maritime operations, not just a passing collaboration.