Russian warship participates in Indian naval drills (VIDEO)
A Russian frigate has taken part in the Indian Navy’s flagship MILAN 2026 multilateral exercise, joining representatives from more than 70 countries for the biennial event.
The Marshal Shaposhnikov conducted artillery firing exercises as part of the international exercises hosted by the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command in the Bay of Bengal, the Russian Pacific Fleet press service reported.
“The Pacific Fleet’s frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, along with ships from countries participating in the Milan 2026 international naval exercise, conducted a series of artillery firings in the Bay of Bengal as part of joint defensive operations,” the statement said.
#MILAN2024Setting sail for shared seas!Sea Phase commences as 35 #IndianNavy & partner Navy warships prepare to sail in unison! From tactical drills to coordinated manoeuvres, this phase is a testament to the collective expertise & strength we bring to the fore as #Maritime… pic.twitter.com/ZgpYxQtbRi
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 24, 2024
As part of the drills, a towed target shield served as the mock enemy ship, while air attack weapons were simulated. Russian sailors fired from 100mm A-190 artillery mounts and 30mm AK-630 cannons.
“The ships carried out combat training exercises in stages, crossing mine-contaminated areas and simultaneously destroying dummy floating mines with naval artillery,” the Russian Defense Ministry added.
Russian naval sailors practiced anti-submarine missions and joint operations with carrier-based aircraft.
The Marshal Shaposhnikov arrived at the Indian port of Visakhapatnam on February 16. It also took part in an international review parade of ships. The MILAN exercises have been held in India since 1995.
In October, 2025, India and Russia conducted the 14th edition of the Indra 2025 bilateral naval exercise to strengthen coordination.
Moscow and New Delhi have collaborated in numerous military exercises and defense deals, through technology transfers and missile programs.
As one of the world’s largest defense importers, India has traditionally relied heavily on Russia for both equipment and technology. The countries have hinted at new projects that emphasize technology transfers for aviation, naval, and missile platforms, as India pushes to boost domestic manufacturing under its ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The Russian delegation is being led by Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy.
