INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish Reach Philippines for ADMM-Plus Maritime Cooperation

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish have arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity, adding another operational engagement to India’s expanding maritime presence in Southeast Asia.

The two warships reached Subic Bay on 20 September 2026 as part of the Indian Navy’s operational deployment. The Ministry of Defence said their participation will involve professional and operational engagements with maritime forces from ASEAN member states and the eight ADMM-Plus partner countries.

Multilateral Maritime Engagement Under ADMM-Plus

The ADMM-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity brings together naval and maritime forces from ASEAN and its dialogue partners for engagements designed to improve interoperability, strengthen professional understanding and deepen cooperation in the maritime domain.

During the deployment, Indian naval personnel will interact with participating forces through a range of professional and operational activities. These engagements are intended to develop a better understanding of shared maritime challenges while providing participating navies with opportunities to operate and communicate in a multinational environment.

India’s participation also forms part of its wider engagement with Southeast Asia through the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The Ministry of Defence linked the deployment to India’s continuing emphasis on multilateral maritime cooperation and constructive engagement with regional partners.

India–Philippines Maritime Cooperation Expands

The port call at Subic Bay also comes against the backdrop of steadily expanding defence and maritime relations between India and the Philippines.

The two countries elevated their relationship to an India–Philippines Strategic Partnership in August 2025, creating a wider framework for cooperation across defence, maritime security, trade, technology and other areas. The Ministry of Defence said the current deployment builds on recent bilateral engagements and provides another opportunity to strengthen professional links between the Indian Navy and the Philippine maritime establishment.

Subic Bay provides a significant setting for the deployment because of its established role as a major naval and maritime facility in the western Pacific. Regular Indian naval visits and participation in regional exercises give the Navy opportunities to operate alongside Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific partners while maintaining a visible presence across important sea lanes.

Sahyadri and Kulish Represent Two Different Naval Capabilities

INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik-class stealth guided-missile frigate and represents one of the Indian Navy’s frontline surface combatant classes. The frigate is designed for multi-role operations and can undertake air-defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine missions as part of larger naval formations.

INS Kulish is a Kora-class guided-missile corvette designed primarily for surface warfare. Operating the frigate and missile corvette together gives the Indian Navy a flexible surface formation capable of participating in multinational maritime activities while demonstrating different elements of India’s indigenous naval combat capability.

Their deployment to the Philippines also reflects the increasing frequency with which Indian naval platforms are being used for both operational presence and defence diplomacy across the Indo-Pacific.

India Strengthens Its Maritime Presence in Southeast Asia

The latest deployment places the Indian Navy alongside ASEAN maritime forces and other ADMM-Plus participants at a time when maritime security, freedom of navigation, interoperability and regional crisis response have become increasingly prominent areas of cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

For India, participation in ADMM-Plus activities complements bilateral naval engagements, coordinated exercises, port visits and training exchanges conducted with countries across Southeast Asia.

The arrival of Sahyadri and Kulish at Subic Bay therefore represents both a multilateral naval engagement and another step in the expanding maritime relationship between India and the Philippines.

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References

Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence — 21 September 2026: “Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish Arrive at Subic Bay, Philippines for ADMM-Plus JCA.”

Ministry of Defence: Official information on India’s participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus framework and the Navy’s operational deployment to the Philippines.

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