MANAMA, Bahrain (Feb. 22, 2026) – Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Indian
Navy-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 conducted its first Staff Enhancement
Training aboard INS Surat one day after assuming command, Feb. 12, 2026.

The session brought together 23 participants from 10 countries and focused
on strengthening operational coordination and interoperability. Training
events included ship familiarization; a visit, board, search and seizure
(VBSS) demonstration; and a demonstration of a battery-powered,
self-propelled lifebuoy.

The ship’s aviation core team demonstrated helicopter firefighting
procedures, casualty rescue operations, oil spill response measures,
aviation safety protocols and helicopter recovery procedures.

The crew engaged with counterparts at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, and
visited a VBSS training facility and the U.S. Coast Guard “Ship in the Box”
facility. They also met with personnel from Task Force 59, where emerging
concepts involving unmanned systems and artificial intelligence-enabled
maritime operations were showcased, reflecting evolving approaches to
maritime security and domain awareness.

Officials said the training underscores continued multinational cooperation
in support of regional maritime security.

CTF 154 was established May 2023 and conducts multinational maritime
training at locations across the Middle East, enabling more CMF
partner-nations to participate in training opportunities without ships or
aircraft, particularly during courses that are facilitated ashore. It
organizes training events around five core areas: maritime awareness,
maritime law, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and
leadership development.

CMF headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S.
5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with
46 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at
sea. It promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2
million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the
world’s most important shipping lanes.