Overview
- The eighth India–U.S. Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise ended after five days of training at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on August 14, 2026, Indian officials said.
- Subject-matter exchanges focused on real-time threats from improvised explosive devices, render-safe procedures, mine neutralisation and the employment of unmanned underwater systems.
- Cross-training sessions practised diving tasks such as wreck location and salvage, use of specialist equipment and slithering operations to raise diving-team competence.
- A tactical demonstration during the drills featured an Indian Navy specialist commando rappelling from a helicopter with an explosive-detection dog, a moment captured by PTI photographers.
- The exercise follows India’s expanded role at RIMPAC 2026 and signals deeper operational cooperation with partner navies that could increase joint deployments and shared maritime responses.