The Indian Navy has completed its maiden command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), a multinational maritime training unit operating under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The command handover took place in Manama, Bahrain, on October 14, concluding an eight-month leadership tenure focused on maritime training, operational coordination and capacity building.
During its tenure, the Indian Navy-led task force delivered more than 7,800 training hours, with personnel from 39 countries participating in its activities. The programme included 20 Staff Enhancement Training engagements, two major multinational training exercises and a specialised exchange focused on piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Indian Navy completes its first-ever command of Combined Task Force 154.
Location: Manama, Bahrain; multinational training activities also included an exercise hosted in Kochi, India.
Authority/Organisation: Indian Navy and Combined Maritime Forces.
Action Taken: The Indian Navy relinquished command of CTF 154 on October 14, 2026, after an eight-month tenure.
Impact: More than 7,800 training hours were delivered, with personnel from 39 countries participating in task-force activities.
The completion of the command represents an important step in India's growing role in multinational maritime cooperation. Rather than focusing solely on naval operations, the assignment placed particular emphasis on developing professional skills, improving coordination between partner countries and strengthening readiness to respond to shared maritime-security challenges.
What Is Combined Task Force 154?
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The command marks a shift from India's participation in a multinational maritime partnership to leading one of its dedicated training units. It demonstrates the Indian Navy's role in professional development and cooperation among partner countries. The training programme also has practical relevance because maritime incidents can require information-sharing and coordination across national boundaries. Exercises and professional exchanges can improve familiarity with procedures and help personnel build working relationships before real-world incidents occur. For India, hosting major training activities in Kochi also highlighted the country's capacity to support multinational naval education and professional development.
Combined Task Force 154 is the dedicated maritime training task force of the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational maritime partnership involving 47 nations. Established in May 2023, CTF 154 focuses on professional development and training to improve interoperability among participating countries.
Its work covers maritime domain awareness, the law of the sea, maritime interdiction operations, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. These areas help participating personnel improve their ability to share information, coordinate procedures and respond to maritime incidents.
The Indian Navy assumed command of CTF 154 on February 11, 2026. It was the first time an Indian Navy contingent had led a task force within the Combined Maritime Forces.
India joined the partnership as an associate partner in 2022 and became a full member in 2023. The completed command adds a practical training and institutional-cooperation dimension to that engagement.
More Than 7,800 Training Hours Across 39 Countries
The Indian Navy-led tenure included a sustained programme of training activities conducted through virtual, hybrid and in-person formats. These engagements brought together personnel and expertise from partner navies, regional maritime agencies, other task forces and specialist international organisations.
The programme included 20 Staff Enhancement Training engagements, Operation Compass Rose 26-1, Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 and the first Subject Matter Expert Exchange on Piracy and Armed Robbery, known as SPAR 2026.
Collectively, these activities generated more than 7,800 training hours. Personnel from 39 countries took part in CTF 154 activities during the Indian Navy's tenure, reflecting the scale of the international training programme.
The figures indicate the breadth of the task force's work, although training hours alone do not measure operational outcomes. The longer-term value will depend on how participating countries apply the training, procedures and professional connections developed through these engagements.
Operation Compass Rose Continued Despite Regional Constraints
One of the major engagements was Operation Compass Rose 26-1, conducted from April 20 to 22, 2026. The exercise was adapted to a fully virtual format in view of the prevailing regional security environment.
It brought together 137 participants, 11 observers and 21 facilitators from 25 partner nations and 13 organisations. The virtual format allowed participants to continue professional training and coordination despite constraints affecting in-person engagement.
The exercise demonstrated how multinational training can continue through alternative formats when regional conditions make conventional arrangements difficult. It also highlighted the importance of maintaining communication and professional coordination between maritime partners.
India Hosted a Major Multinational Exercise in Kochi
Another significant engagement was Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, conducted at the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command in Kochi from July 20 to 23, 2026.
The exercise marked the first major Combined Maritime Forces training engagement hosted by India. It involved 276 personnel from 27 countries and generated approximately 3,800 training hours.
Participants received training and practical exposure across areas including maritime information-sharing, maritime law, counter-narcotics operations, force protection, asymmetric threats and maritime uncrewed systems. The programme also included practical activities related to firefighting, damage control, communications, survival at sea and boarding procedures.
The exercise showcased India's naval training infrastructure and its ability to host multinational professional-development programmes. It also gave participating personnel opportunities to exchange operational practices and develop a better understanding of different countries' training methods.
Command Handed Over in Bahrain
The handover ceremony was held at the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. Commodore Milind M. Mokashi formally relinquished command, with Commander Melissa Desjardins, Deputy Commander of CTF 154, receiving command on behalf of the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters.
Senior representatives from the multinational partnership and the Indian diplomatic and naval establishments attended the ceremony. The handover concluded India's first command of a CMF task force and transferred responsibility for the next phase of CTF 154's work.
The completion of the tenure does not mean the task force itself has ended. CTF 154 continues to serve as the partnership's dedicated maritime training unit, with its mission centred on professional development, interoperability and capacity building.
What the Achievement Means for India's Maritime Role
India's contribution to CTF 154 extends beyond the number of training hours delivered. Leading a multinational task force provided the Indian Navy with experience in coordinating training programmes involving personnel, institutions and maritime agencies from numerous countries.
Maritime security challenges frequently cross national boundaries. Issues such as piracy, illegal trafficking, unsafe maritime activity and the need for search-and-rescue coordination can require countries to communicate and operate using compatible procedures.
Training partnerships help build the professional relationships and shared understanding required for that coordination. However, the command's completion should not be interpreted as proof that every maritime-security challenge has been resolved or that all participating countries now operate identically.
The immediate milestone is the successful completion of India's first leadership assignment within the Combined Maritime Forces, supported by a substantial multinational training programme.
