India and the United States have launched the fifth edition of their bilateral tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise, Tiger Triumph 2026, in Visakhapatnam.
The opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2026 was held on November 2 at the Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC), Visakhapatnam. The fifth edition of the India-US Bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise is being conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) this year.
The exercise aims to strengthen coordination, joint planning and interoperability between the armed forces of both countries during large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and Rear Admiral Joaquin J Martinez de Pinillos, Vice Commander, US Pacific Fleet.
Exercise Focuses on Joint Planning and Disaster Response
Tiger Triumph 2026 reflects the growing defence partnership between India and the United States and the convergence of their strategic maritime interests.
This edition aims to further improve interoperability between the two armed forces and facilitate the conduct of Combined Joint All-Domain Operations. Particular emphasis has been placed on planning and coordination for large-scale HADR operations.
Indian Armed Forces and NDRF Participate
The Indian contingent includes specialists from different domains of maritime operations from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army and representatives from various units of the Indian Air Force.
Special Forces personnel from all three Services are also participating in the exercise. Additionally, a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will participate in Tiger Triumph for the first time in its fifth edition.
US Joint Force Brings Multi-Domain Specialists
The US Joint Force comprises specialist representatives from different domains of the country’s armed forces, including the US Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy.
The participating team also includes specialists in Space, Cyber, Medical and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
Through the tabletop exercise, Indian and US personnel will work on strengthening joint planning and coordination for large-scale disaster response operations, with the broader objective of improving interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
Read More :