President Droupadi Murmu’s arrival in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday signals the start of IFR 2026, a monumental naval review affirming India’s strategic maritime footprint. Over two days, she’ll lead proceedings as the apex authority over the nation’s military, inspecting an impressive assembly of international assets.
Commencing with Tuesday’s Presidential Banquet, the event peaks Wednesday with the fleet review from Visakhapatnam’s coast. Seventy vessels—including India’s and partners’ ships, subs, and planes—will parade in formation, epitomizing naval cooperation, power projection, and maritime guardianship.
Andhra Pradesh’s Governor S. Abdul Nazeer (Retd.) and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu join the occasion. Per Navy insights, IFR celebrates interoperability and oceanic stewardship. Building on 2001’s Mumbai debut and 2016’s local hosting, 2026 elevates the tradition.
INS Vikrant commands attention as the star performer, fresh from its decisive role in Operation Sindoor. Integral to the carrier strike group, it anchored the Navy’s aggressive deterrence, shifting momentum against Pakistan’s navy and hastening war’s end. Friendly forces will scrutinize this homegrown carrier closely.
The agenda brims with international parades, cultural festivities, and public interactions to exalt naval legacies. Simultaneously, MILAN 26’s 13th iteration, orchestrated by Eastern Naval Command in the Bay of Bengal, unites 135 nations for collaborative training, knowledge-sharing, and operational synergy.
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium completes India’s pioneering simultaneous hosting of these events. Historical precedents include 2001’s review by President Narayanan aboard INS Sujata and 2016’s from INS Sumitra by President Mukherjee, accompanied by PM Modi and Defence Minister Parrikar amid 100 ships from 50 countries—the biggest ever in regional waters.