India, U.S. navies conclude Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise in Kochi

An Indian Navy specialist commando along with an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) rappels down from a helicopter during a tactical demonstration as part of the Indian Navy-US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 at the Southern Naval Command base, in Kochi on August 9, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI The eighth edition of the India-U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 concluded at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on August 14, 2026, with the two navies conducting intensive professional exchanges and joint training in specialised maritime operations.The Indian Navy, in an official release on Monday (August 17, 2026), stated that the bilateral exercise focused on sharing operational knowledge and best practices in EOD operations. Subject matter expert exchanges covered real-time threats from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), render-safe procedures, mine neutralisation and the use of unmanned underwater systems.Aids interoperabilityThe cross-training phase included exercises in diving disciplines such as wreck location and salvage, employment of specialist equipment and slithering operations, it added.The joint training enhanced the professional competence and skill sets of the diving teams while strengthening mutual understanding and interoperability between the two navies.The successful completion of the exercise underlined the commitment of India and the U.S. to deepen operational synergy and cooperation in specialised maritime operations. Published - August 17, 2026 05:40 pm IST