Indian, American Navies to hold bilateral exercise in Kochi from August 10
The Indian Navy and the United States Navy began the eighth edition of their bilateral Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, running from 10 to 14 August.
The five-day exercise involves specialist diving and EOD teams from both navies conducting Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, cross-training, equipment demonstrations and scenario-based practical drills.
The stated aim is to enhance interoperability and deepen professional cooperation between the two navies in the maritime EOD domain, including exposure to contemporary EOD methodologies and technologies.
Joint Salvage and EOD exercises between the two navies have been conducted since 2005, making this the latest instalment of a nearly two-decade bilateral engagement.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) — A Specialised Maritime Security Function
EOD refers to the detection, identification, render-safe and disposal of unexploded ordnance, sea mines and improvised explosive devices, a specialised function distinct from general naval combat diving and central to keeping ports, shipping lanes and coastal waters safe.
Key Details
- In the Indian Navy, EOD and clearance diving functions are performed by specially trained Naval Divers, typically drawn from the Diving Branch, who handle underwater ordnance, mine countermeasures and improvised threats to harbours and vessels.
- Maritime EOD is a core component of Mine Counter-Measures (MCM) capability, essential for keeping choke points and harbour approaches open during conflict or sabotage scenarios.
- Given the maritime terrorism precedent (e.g., seaborne approach used in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of 2008), EOD and coastal security capability building has been a priority area for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard since 2008.
The Kochi exercise focuses specifically on this specialised EOD/diving skill set rather than broader combat operations, reflecting how India-US naval cooperation has progressively expanded into niche, technical domains beyond conventional exercises.
India-US Foundational Defence Agreements — The Legal Architecture Enabling Interoperability
Bilateral exercises such as this one operate within a broader legal framework of "foundational agreements" that the United States signs with closely partnered militaries to enable interoperability, secure communications and information sharing.
Key Details
- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), signed 2002 — governs the protection of classified military information exchanged between the two countries.
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), signed 2016 — allows reciprocal access to designated military facilities for logistics support such as fuel and repair.
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), signed 2018 — enables transfer of secure communication equipment and interoperable, encrypted communications between platforms.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), signed 2020 — facilitates sharing of geospatial intelligence and data for precision targeting and navigation.
While the EOD exercise itself is a training engagement rather than an operational deployment, exercises of this kind are the practical expression of the interoperability that LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA are designed to enable at the technical and communications level.
Bilateral vs Multilateral Naval Exercises — Distinguishing the EOD Exercise from MALABAR
India conducts naval exercises with the US and partners across a spectrum from purely bilateral, niche-skill drills (like this EOD exercise) to large multilateral, multi-domain exercises — a distinction UPSC often tests.
Key Details
- Exercise MALABAR began in 1992 as a bilateral India-US naval exercise; Japan joined in 2015 (trilateral), and Australia joined in 2020, making it a Quad-format multilateral exercise involving India, the US, Japan and Australia.
- MALABAR involves large-scale, multi-domain operations (air, surface, sub-surface, cross-deck helicopter operations) rotating between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- By contrast, the EOD Exercise at Kochi remains strictly bilateral (India-US) and domain-specific (explosive ordnance disposal and diving), illustrating how defence cooperation operates simultaneously at both a broad multilateral level and a narrow bilateral, technical level.
The EOD exercise is best understood as a specialised, capability-building complement to larger multilateral engagements like MALABAR, rather than a competing or overlapping exercise.
- EOD Exercise 2026: 8th edition, held 10-14 August 2026 at Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
- Joint India-US Salvage and EOD exercises have been conducted since 2005.
- Foundational India-US defence agreements: GSOMIA (2002), LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020).
- MALABAR exercise: started 1992 (bilateral), Japan joined 2015, Australia joined 2020 (Quad format).