BRP Malvar joins India, other nations in naval exercise for first time
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy, through the guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), sailed almost 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 kilometers) across the Indian Ocean to join the third International Fleet Review (IFR) hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in eastern India.
“With FFG-06’s participation in the IFR 2026, the Philippine Navy reaffirms its dedication to building strong partnerships to strengthen cooperation and promote peace and security across shared oceans,” the Navy said in a statement on Saturday.
Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the ongoing mission is the country’s first maritime exercise with India and is part of India’s flagship naval exercise, called Milan 2026, that will also include the United States, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Russia and Vietnam.
READ: PH Navy joins India drills; sends Miguel Malvar-class ship in a first
The IFR 2026, themed “United Through Oceans,” focused on naval diplomacy, symbolic cooperation and strategic dialogue among global naval leaders.
Martinez said the Malvar and its crew of 115 left Manila on Feb. 5, sailed 2,914 nautical miles (5396.73 kms) through the Indian Ocean and arrived in Visakhapatnam on Feb. 15, the first day of the Milan exercise, to take part in joint patrols, surface warfare exercises and humanitarian and disaster response operations.
Many of these exercises occurred off Visakhapatnam, a strategic port city on the Bay of Bengal that lies between the northern Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait, a major international shipping corridor.
The event, held at the Review Anchorage Area of Visakhapatnam, was attended by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, from onboard the presidential yacht INS Sumedha.
Heads of delegations from other foreign navies also witnessed the large assembly of ships from around the world.
The deployment also marks the Navy’s first participation in India-hosted naval exercises. /cb
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