In March 2026, the Indian Navy (IN) conducted the 3rd edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise (IMEX) Tabletop Exercise (TTX) 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi, Kerala.
- The exercise marked a significant development as India assumed the IONS Chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of 16-years since 2010.
About IMEX TTX 2026:
Aim: IMEX TTX 2026 addressed non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) while enhancing shared understanding, refining coordination mechanisms, and validating frameworks under the IONS.
Participants: The exercise involved delegates from IONS member navies, officers from Indian Ocean Ship–Security and Growth for All in the Region (IOS-SAGAR), and the IN, with participation from Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste.
Mechanism: Conducted as a TTX in a simulated environment, it addressed multi-scenario contingencies while avoiding live deployment constraints.
Significance: It promoted maritime cooperation, professional exchange, and mutual trust, strengthening India’s regional maritime leadership in a region critical for global trade, energy flows, and connectivity.
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