The Philippine Navy's guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar has arrived in Visakhapatnam, India, to participate in the 3rd Indian Navy International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026, marking a historic milestone. This represents the first time the Philippine Navy joins a naval exercise hosted in India and the ship's inaugural foreign mission. The deployment underscores expanding defense ties between the two nations.
The Philippine Navy has described the arrival of the guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) in Visakhapatnam, India, on February 14, 2026, as a 'historic milestone' for its participation in the 3rd Indian Navy International Fleet Review (IFR) and the Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN 2026. Sailing as part of Naval Task Group 80.5, the ship departed from the Philippines on February 5.
The IFR is set for February 18, with Indian President Droupadi Murmu serving as the reviewing officer. It will bring together naval forces from friendly countries to showcase capabilities and commitment to collective maritime security and cooperation.
This will be followed by MILAN 2026 from February 19 to 26. During the harbor phase, the Philippine contingent will engage in multinational maritime activities, professional exchanges, and an international maritime seminar involving navy chiefs and senior leaders. The sea phase will include tactical maneuvers, communications drills, and maritime security operations to enhance interoperability among participating navies.
The Navy stated that 'The PN's participation in both IFR and MILAN 2026 places the Philippines together with major maritime partners in a forum designed to promote peace, maritime stability, and cooperative security in the Indo-Pacific Region.'
The Indian Navy welcomed BRP Miguel Malvar in a social media post on February 14: 'Indian Navy welcomes BRP Miguel Malvar, a frigate of Philippine Navy, on her arrival at Visakhapatnam to participate in International Fleet Review 2026 and MILAN 2026,' using hashtags #BridgesOfFriendship and #UnitedThroughOceans.
The deployment occurs amid growing defense ties between Manila and New Delhi, including port calls, joint patrols, high-level exchanges, and defense agreements that reflect shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.
