India-UK naval exercise Konkan-25 strengthens maritime interoperability and strategic partnership amid multi-nation participation | cliQ Latest

The Indian Navy and Royal Navy have commenced the eight-day bilateral naval exercise, Konkan-25, off India’s Western coast, showcasing advanced maritime cooperation, operational readiness, and strategic collaboration between the two nations. The exercise, running from October 5 to 12, sees India’s Western Fleet units, led by the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, engage with the UK Carrier Strike Group headed by HMS Prince of Wales. In addition, forces from Japan and Norway are also participating, demonstrating a growing emphasis on multilateral coordination and enhancing interoperability in complex maritime operations. Konkan-25 represents a culmination of decades of collaborative exercises and reinforces India-UK strategic ties while addressing contemporary maritime security challenges. The exercise integrates advanced operational drills, cross-deck visits, cultural exchanges, and technological coordination, marking a significant step in regional naval collaboration.

Advanced Naval Operations and Multinational Collaboration

Konkan-25 is structured in two distinct phases, encompassing both sea-based and harbor-based activities, each designed to strengthen the operational synergy between participating navies. The sea phase focuses on high-intensity maritime operational drills, including anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare exercises. Both India and the UK have deployed their frontline assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and integral and shore-based air units. INS Vikrant, equipped with Mig-29K carrier-based multirole fighters, demonstrates India’s indigenous carrier strike capability, while HMS Prince of Wales brings F-35B stealth multirole fighters, showcasing the UK’s advanced naval aviation technology.

The participation of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Akebono and Norway’s HNoMS Roald Amundsen reflects the evolving trend of multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, further strengthening collective maritime security frameworks. These joint operations emphasize coordination in complex scenarios such as simulated air threats, surface engagements, submarine countermeasures, and integrated flight operations, allowing navies to share tactical expertise, refine standard operating procedures, and evaluate interoperability under realistic operational conditions. This phase of the exercise aims to build mutual trust, enhance response times, and integrate modern maritime technologies, contributing to regional stability and security.

The harbor phase of Konkan-25 complements operational drills by promoting personnel exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports interactions, and cultural engagements. These activities foster mutual understanding, strengthen professional relationships, and reinforce the human dimension of naval cooperation. By combining rigorous operational exercises with community-building and professional exchanges, Konkan-25 ensures a comprehensive approach to maritime collaboration, reinforcing India’s and the UK’s commitment to maintaining open and secure seas.

A statement from India’s Ministry of Defence highlighted that Konkan-25 has grown substantially over the past two decades, reflecting the increasing scale and complexity of bilateral naval engagements. The participation of advanced carrier strike groups, multinational assets, and the integration of diverse naval platforms exemplifies the evolving nature of India-UK maritime collaboration. The statement emphasized that the exercise is a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to secure, free, and open seas and aligns with the strategic vision outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035 framework.

Strategic Significance, Regional Impact, and Future Exercises

Konkan-25 is not only a demonstration of operational proficiency but also a strategic initiative aimed at consolidating defense ties, enhancing interoperability, and contributing to broader regional maritime stability. By integrating India’s Western Fleet, led by INS Vikrant, with the UK Carrier Strike Group and allied assets from Japan and Norway, the exercise simulates realistic conflict scenarios while emphasizing cooperation, rapid decision-making, and technological synchronization. Such engagements are crucial for addressing emerging maritime threats, ensuring freedom of navigation, and strengthening joint deterrence capabilities.

The inclusion of cutting-edge platforms, such as F-35B stealth fighters on HMS Prince of Wales and Mig-29K fighters on INS Vikrant, highlights the emphasis on integrating air, surface, and sub-surface capabilities in modern naval warfare. These operations test the ability of participating forces to coordinate complex missions, execute precision strikes, and manage multi-domain challenges in dynamic operational environments. Furthermore, the exchange of tactics, operational insights, and doctrinal experiences enhances the overall readiness of both navies, fostering long-term strategic advantages and strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.

Following the conclusion of Konkan-25, the UK Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to participate in a one-day exercise with the Indian Air Force off India’s Western coast on October 14. This subsequent exercise will extend the interoperability benefits, reinforcing the coordination between naval and air assets and showcasing joint operational capabilities across multiple domains. Such initiatives underscore the comprehensive nature of India-UK defense collaboration, providing a platform to evaluate integrated command-and-control structures, operational resilience, and technological adaptability.

The strategic implications of Konkan-25 are also aligned with broader geopolitical objectives. By conducting large-scale exercises with multinational participation, India demonstrates its commitment to fostering a rules-based maritime order, ensuring regional security, and enhancing the credibility of its naval forces. The exercise also reinforces India’s capacity to host and manage complex joint operations, reflecting its growing prominence in the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to maintaining stability in vital sea lanes.

The exercise further emphasizes the significance of strategic partnerships in addressing contemporary maritime challenges. In addition to tactical drills, Konkan-25 allows for the exchange of expertise in emerging domains such as unmanned systems, network-centric warfare, electronic warfare, and maritime surveillance. These collaborative engagements ensure that participating navies remain abreast of technological advancements and operational innovations, creating a shared knowledge base that can be leveraged in real-world scenarios.

Indian Navy communications highlighted that Konkan-25 serves as a comprehensive platform for fostering interoperability across all domains of maritime operations. The exercise demonstrates India’s ability to coordinate large-scale, multi-national operations while providing opportunities for personnel to gain valuable experience in integrated mission planning, resource management, and joint execution. By engaging with the UK, Japan, and Norway, the Indian Navy reinforces its status as a technologically advanced and strategically capable maritime force, contributing to long-term regional stability and preparedness.

Konkan-25 also reflects the importance of people-to-people engagement and cultural diplomacy in strengthening defense partnerships. Through sports fixtures, cross-deck visits, and professional interactions, naval personnel build trust, enhance communication, and develop a deeper understanding of allied operational doctrines. Such initiatives complement operational readiness by ensuring that bilateral and multilateral engagements are sustainable, effective, and mutually beneficial.

Konkan-25 represents a milestone in India-UK defense collaboration, integrating operational excellence, multinational coordination, technological innovation, and strategic foresight. The exercise reinforces the shared commitment to maintaining secure and free seas, enhancing interoperability, and advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UK. With participation from allied navies and advanced platforms, the exercise underscores India’s growing role in regional security architecture and its commitment to upholding maritime norms and operational standards in an increasingly complex global maritime environment.

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