Exercise KONKAN-2025, the premier annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, commenced on 5 October 2025 off the western seaboard of India. Now spanning over two decades, this exercise has expanded dramatically in scale, demonstrating the increasing complexity, interoperability, and mutual trust between the two navies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Exercise Structure and Highlights
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Phases and Duration: The exercise is being held in two phases from 5–12 October 2025: a harbour phase, followed by an intensive sea phase.
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Harbour Phase: Includes professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports matches, cultural events, Joint Working Group meetings, and expert exchanges between both navies.
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Sea Phase: Features complex maritime operational drills, with a focus on anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, advanced flying operations, and seamanship evolutions.
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Frontline Assets: Both nations have deployed their frontline platforms—aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and integrated and shore-based air assets. Notably, the UK Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG 25), led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and joined by assets from Norway (HNoMS Roald Amundsen) and Japan (JS Akebono), is participating. India is represented by the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant’s carrier battle group, along with other major surface, sub-surface, and air combatants.
Strategic and Operational Significance
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India-UK Vision 2035: The exercise is a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to secure, open, and free seas, exemplifying a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in ‘India-UK Vision 2035’.
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Blue Water Capability: Both navies are recognized for their carrier-operating blue-water status. The presence of multi-carrier strike groups enhances joint operational capabilities and allows for exchange of best practices at sea.
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Regional Security: Exercise Konkan is aimed at consolidating strategic ties, boosting interoperability, and contributing directly to regional maritime stability and security.
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Post-Exercise Collaboration: Upon conclusion on 12 October, the UK CSG 25 will conduct a day-long exercise with the Indian Air Force off India’s western coast on 14 October before continuing its broader Indo-Pacific deployment.
Conclusion: KONKAN-2025
Exercise KONKAN-2025 marks a new chapter in advanced operational collaboration between the Indian and Royal Navies, setting benchmarks in joint capability, partner engagement, and Indo-Pacific maritime integration, with strong participation from allied partners Norway and Japan.
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Source: PIB
