The strategic maritime corridors of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden remain critical arteries for global commerce. Maintaining the safe passage of crews and cargo requires more than individual vigilance; it demands a high degree of multinational synergy and technical integration. Throughout February 2026, naval forces gathered in the Western Indian Ocean for the 16th iteration of Exercise Cutlass Express (CE26). Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, the exercise served as a testing ground for evolving maritime domain awareness (MDA) technologies and collaborative interdiction tactics.
Mauritius served as the primary host for CE26, which ran from February 2 to February 12, 2026. The exercise involved approximately 500 personnel from 19 nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. While the U.S. 6th Fleet provided leadership and oversight, the operational focus remained on African partner-led initiatives.
The Seychelles, a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), played a pivotal role by hosting concurrent training segments. Despite its small landmass, the Seychelles manages a vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ), making the protection of maritime resources a national security priority. To the north, these efforts were complemented by the ongoing activities of Operation Aspides. Now in its second year, this European Union tasking continues to conduct defensive manoeuvres to shield merchant shipping from regional instabilities, providing a real-world backdrop to the simulated scenarios of Cutlass Express.
A notable milestone in this year's exercise was the operational deployment of unmanned surface systems (USSs). The integration of robotic platforms represents a substantial shift in how regional navies approach surveillance and threat response. During the drills, the U.S. Navy launched the Lightfish USV from a Seychelles Coast Guard vessel. The Lightfish is a 12-foot, solar-powered unmanned surface vehicle designed as an interceptor drone. Its modular payload and high endurance allow it to conduct long-term monitoring without the logistical constraints of manned patrols.
Lt. Bryna Loranger, operations officer for the U.S. Navy 6th Fleet's Commander Task Force 66, noted that the demonstration of these robotic capabilities alongside maritime partners marks a new chapter in regional warfighting skills. By offloading persistent surveillance to autonomous systems, manned assets can be reserved for high-stakes interdiction and boarding operations.
Beyond hardware, the exercise emphasised software-driven situational awareness through the SmartMast and SeaVision platforms. These systems address a common technical gap: the ability of small patrol craft to transmit data to national and regional Maritime Operations Centres (MOCs) in real time.
SmartMast is a platform that integrates a maritime situational awareness network for vessel tracking with a portable telescopic mast and solar-powered lighting. It allows for the rapid deployment of surveillance nodes in remote areas.
SeaVision is a web-based tool that enables users to track commercial vessels globally by aggregating data from Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders. A critical function of SeaVision is its ability to identify "dark" vessels that have disabled their transponders, a common tactic for illegal fishing, piracy, and smuggling.
The training curriculum extended beyond electronic monitoring to include tactical physical manoeuvres. Participating forces engaged in advanced Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills. These exercises are designed to standardise the way different navies approach and board suspect vessels, ensuring safety and legal compliance during high-pressure encounters.
The Kenyan Navy utilised Cutlass Express to further its own internal training objectives. Integrating the exercise into its "Exercise Jitegemee", which translates to "sustain yourself" in Swahili, the Kenyan Maritime Component used the transit to and from the exercise area to train junior officers. This 27th iteration of Jitegemee allowed cadets to move from theoretical classroom instruction at the Kenya Naval College to practical, at-sea evolutions alongside international peers.
Information sharing remains the cornerstone of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which provides the legal framework for these operations. By simulating real-world command post scenarios, CE26 tested the ability of MOCs to communicate across national boundaries. Capt. Samuel Cecile of the Seychelles Coast Guard emphasised that securing these waters relies on coordination and trust, which are fostered through these side-by-side operational experiences.
Evolution of the Cutlass Series
The success of CE26 builds upon a decade of iterative growth. In February 2025, the 15th iteration in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, saw over 1,000 participants, highlighting the expanding scale of the program. Since its inception in 2011, the exercise has transitioned from basic maritime law enforcement to a complex multi-domain event involving advanced technology and legal training.
The 2021 iteration (CE21), launched at the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa, was particularly instrumental in establishing the framework for countering non-state maritime actors. That edition focused heavily on the marine rule of law, a theme that continued through 2026. The persistent focus on illicit trafficking, piracy, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing reflects the diverse threat landscape of the Western Indian Ocean.
As Lt. Gen. John Brennan, AFRICOM deputy commander, stated at the close of the 2026 exercise, the commitment to improving this African partner-led framework is ongoing. The lessons learned in Mauritius and the Seychelles regarding unmanned systems and real-time data sharing will likely form the technical foundation for Cutlass Express 2027.
