VISAKHAPATNAM, India — The Indian and U.S. armed forces commenced the fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph on April 1, a bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) drill being held along India’s eastern seaboard through April 13.
The exercise, which aims to enhance interoperability and coordination between the two nations’ military forces during disaster response operations, will include the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and establishing a Combined Coordination Center (CCC) to streamline joint efforts during emergencies and crises.
The Indian contingent includes naval ships INS Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai, and Shakti, supported by embarked helicopters, landing crafts, and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8I. Ground forces from the 91 Infantry Brigade and 12 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, along with Indian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft, Mi-17 helicopters, and a Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT), are also participating.
The U.S. contingent is represented by the U.S. Navy ships USS Comstock and USS Ralph Johnson, carrying troops from the U.S. Marine Division.
“The operations and associated tactics and procedures that we will plan, execute and refine with our Indian partners will greatly expand our joint combined capacity to respond to any crisis,” said Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 70 and the joint U.S. forces participating in the exercise. “Tiger Triumph 25 represents the joint forces of two strategic partners enhancing our shared multi-domain awareness and ability to operate more effectively in those commonly understood domains. This is essential to prepare for any contingency that could emerge.”
“The longstanding strategic partnership between India and the United States is based on shared democratic values and convergence of ideas and interests on bilateral, regional and global issues,” said the Indian Navy’s Rear Adm. Susheel Manon, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Fleet. “Tiger Triumph 2025, the fourth edition of this joint exercise is an initiative aimed at furthering our common vision for the Indo-Pacific, specifically dealing with the aspect of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Exercise Tiger Triumph is an integrated and complex exercise, in terms of the number of assets and personnel involved, with a direct joint tri-services flavor.”
A ceremonial kickoff took place aboard INS Jalashwa in Visakhapatnam on April 1, featuring a joint flag parade and media interaction. The Harbor Phase, running through April 7, includes training visits, expert exchanges, sports events, and social engagements between Indian and U.S. personnel.
Following the Harbor Phase, ships and troops will transition to the Sea Phase, conducting maritime, amphibious, and HADR operations off the coast of Kakinada. A joint command and control center, operated by the Indian Army and U.S. Marines, will be established at the Kakinada Naval Enclave. Additionally, Indian and U.S. medical teams will set up a joint medical camp to provide aid as part of the humanitarian simulation.
The exercise will conclude with a closing ceremony aboard USS Comstock in Visakhapatnam on April 13.
Tiger Triumph, first held in 2019, continues to reinforce the strategic partnership and operational cooperation between India and the United States in the Indo-Pacific region.
