India and the United Kingdom launched the latest edition of their major bilateral naval exercise, ‘Konkan,’ in the western Indian Ocean on Sunday. This high-intensity maritime drill features an impressive array of military assets, including aircraft carriers, warships, submarines, and fighter jets.
The Indian Navy is represented by the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, accompanied by MiG-29K fighter jets. Leading the UK forces is the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), headed by HMS Prince of Wales, with the inclusion of F-35B multirole stealth jets. The exercise also sees participation from Norway and Japan, indicating a broader scope of multilateral cooperation.
This edition of Exercise Konkan holds significant strategic importance as it precedes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India on October 8–9, where defense cooperation is expected to be a focal point.
British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron remarked, “The UK and India believe in an Indo-Pacific that is free and open. We share an ambition for a modern defense and security partnership, a fundamental pillar of UK-India Vision 2035.” She emphasized that the collaboration between the two carrier strike groups exemplifies their shared commitment to maintaining a rules-based international order, ultimately paving the way for deeper cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Captain Vivek Madhwal, spokesperson for the Indian Navy, highlighted that Exercise Konkan is vital for strengthening strategic ties and enhancing interoperability, contributing positively to regional maritime stability. He noted that the exercise reiterates the commitment of both nations to ensure secure, open, and free seas.
The biennial exercise comprises a range of complex maritime operations that include anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, as well as flying operations and seamanship drills. Furthermore, the UK CSG is set to engage in a one-day aerial defense exercise with the Indian Air Force on October 14, involving Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar fighters along India’s western coast.
Over the last two decades, the Konkan series has advanced significantly in scale and sophistication, mirroring the growing partnership between the two navies.
Currently, the UK Carrier Strike Group is on an eight-month multinational deployment, known as Operation Highmast, which encompasses a series of joint exercises with partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific. Following the conclusion of the Konkan exercise, UK warships are slated to make port calls in Mumbai and Goa, further enhancing diplomatic and military ties in the region.
