Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited units of the Pakistan Navy deployed at sea and the Creeks Area to review ongoing operational activities and assess the operational preparedness being demonstrated during Exercise Sea Spark 2026.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Sea Spark 2026 has been underway since September 1 and is being conducted as a comprehensive maritime exercise designed to evaluate the Pakistan Navy’s readiness across a wide spectrum of naval operations.
The exercise is testing the Navy’s ability to rapidly transition from peacetime activities to combat operations, while assessing the effectiveness of operational planning, command and control, coordination and response mechanisms under demanding and evolving maritime conditions.
During his visit, Admiral Naveed Ashraf reviewed the ongoing exercise activities and inspected the operational preparedness of participating naval units. The exercise is focused on validating the Pakistan Navy’s ability to respond swiftly to changing operational circumstances and transition seamlessly from routine peacetime responsibilities to wartime operations.
The exercise provides an opportunity to assess the preparedness of personnel, platforms and operational formations in an integrated environment, while enabling commanders and participating units to evaluate their ability to respond effectively to emerging maritime challenges.
ISPR stated that, keeping in view the rapidly changing character of warfare, Sea Spark 2026 incorporates modern operational concepts aimed at enhancing the Navy’s ability to operate effectively across increasingly complex battle environments.
The exercise includes operations in the information environment, reflecting the growing importance of information and decision-making in contemporary warfare. It also incorporates multi-domain operations, allowing participating forces to practice coordinated responses across different operational domains and assess their ability to function as an integrated force. These elements are intended to strengthen operational coordination and enhance the ability of naval formations to respond to complex and rapidly developing situations.
A significant feature of Sea Spark 2026 is the extensive employment of unmanned systems during the exercise. The integration of unmanned platforms into naval operations provides participating units with an opportunity to assess their utility in surveillance, reconnaissance, situational awareness and other operational roles.
The increased use of such systems reflects the evolving technological character of modern maritime warfare, in which unmanned capabilities are increasingly becoming an important component of military operations. Through Sea Spark 2026, the Pakistan Navy is assessing its ability to integrate these emerging capabilities into broader maritime operations while maintaining effective command, control and coordination.
During his visit to the deployed naval units and Creeks Area, Admiral Naveed Ashraf reviewed the operational activities being undertaken as part of the exercise and assessed the preparedness of participating personnel. The Naval Chief also interacted with the officers and personnel taking part in Sea Spark 2026.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf appreciated their professional competence, operational preparedness and high morale, commending the personnel for maintaining a strong level of commitment and dedication during the exercise. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and readiness in order to meet the demands of an increasingly complex maritime security environment. The Naval Chief also paid tribute to the personnel of the Pakistan Navy for their determination and unwavering commitment to remaining “unassailable at sea.”
Sea Spark 2026 represents a comprehensive assessment of the Pakistan Navy’s preparedness to conduct a broad range of maritime operations under changing operational conditions. By combining conventional naval activities with modern operational concepts, information-environment operations, multi-domain coordination and extensive unmanned-system employment, the exercise provides an integrated platform for evaluating the Navy’s operational readiness.
The exercise also enables participating formations to test their ability to respond rapidly to changing circumstances, strengthen coordination between different elements and maintain operational effectiveness in demanding maritime environments.
The ongoing exercise underscores the Pakistan Navy’s continued emphasis on combat readiness, technological adaptation, professional excellence and operational preparedness. As Sea Spark 2026 progresses, participating personnel and units continue to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a high state of readiness and safeguarding Pakistan’s maritime interests.
