Pariksha Saathi5th edition of India-US tri-service HADR exercise Tiger Triumph opens at Visakhapatnam; an NDRF team to take part for the first time
The opening ceremony of Tiger Triumph 2026, the 5th edition of the India–US Bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise, was held at the Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC), Visakhapatnam, on 2 November 2026, the Ministry of Defence said. This year the exercise is being conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX); it aims to enhance coordination, joint planning and interoperability between the Armed Forces of both countries during large-scale HADR operations, and the present edition also aims to facilitate the conduct of Combined Joint All-Domain Operations. The 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. The Indian side includes specialists from all domains of maritime operations from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army, representatives from various units of the Indian Air Force and Special Forces personnel from all three Services, and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will participate for the first time. The US Joint Force comprises specialist representatives from the US Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as specialists in Space, Cyber, Medical and Explosive Ordnance Disposal. The Ministry said the exercise reflects the deepening convergence of India–US strategic maritime interests and the growing defence partnership between the two nations.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
PIB's curtain raiser of 31 March 2025 described the fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, the bilateral tri-service India-US HADR exercise, as scheduled on the Eastern Seaboard from 1 to 13 April 2025. It was aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and at formulating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to establish a Combined Coordination Center (CCC) for rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US Joint Task Forces during exercises and crises or contingencies. The Indian side was to be represented by Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai and Shakti, the Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I, Army troops, Air Force C-130 aircraft and MI-17 helicopters and the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT), and the US side by US Navy Ships Comstock and Ralph Johnson with troops of the US Marine Division embarked. A Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam, with an opening ceremony onboard INS Jalashwa on 1 April 2025, was to be followed by a Sea Phase of maritime, amphibious and HADR operations off Kakinada, where the Indian Army and US Marines would establish a joint command and control center at the Kakinada Naval Enclave.
Reference: PIB (Ministry of Defence), 'Curtain Raiser: Ex Tiger Triumph - 25', 31 March 2025
Check yourself: onboard which ship was the opening ceremony of Tiger Triumph's fourth edition scheduled, and off which place was its Sea Phase to be held?
Onboard INS Jalashwa at Visakhapatnam, on 1 April 2025; off Kakinada.
Revision task: from this release, note the edition number, the venue and date of the opening ceremony, the format of this year's exercise, the two officers who presided, the Indian and US participants and the organisation taking part for the first time; from the note, the dates and aims of the fourth edition, the ships named, the two phases and where each was to be held. Compare the format of the two editions.
Test yourself
A team from which organisation will participate for the first time in Tiger Triumph 2026, the 5th edition of the India–US tri-service HADR exercise, whose opening ceremony was held at Visakhapatnam on 2 November 2026?
Show the answer
Answer: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
The Ministry of Defence said a team from the NDRF will participate for the first time in the 5th edition of Tiger Triumph. The Indian side also includes specialists from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army, representatives from Indian Air Force units and Special Forces personnel from all three Services; this year the exercise is being conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX).
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