India–US Exercise ‘Tiger Triumph 2026’ Commences

On 2 November 2026, the 5th edition of the bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise ‘Tiger Triumph 2026’ between India and the United States was inaugurated at the Maritime Warfare Centre in Visakhapatnam.

Key Facts

Exercise Format: The 5th edition is being conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX), focusing on joint scenario planning for simulated disaster contingencies.
Primary Objective: Enhance joint planning, coordination, and operational interoperability between the armed forces of both nations for large-scale HADR operations.
Inauguration: Presided over by Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi of the Indian Navy and Rear Admiral Joaquin J. Martinez de Pinillos of the US Pacific Fleet.
Indian Participation: Includes representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and tri-service Special Forces.
NDRF Maiden Participation: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is participating in Exercise Tiger Triumph for the first time, fostering coordination between military and civilian emergency response authorities.
US Participation: Involves personnel from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, alongside specialists in space, cyber, medical, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
Inception: The maiden edition of this bilateral tri-service military exercise was conducted in 2019.