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India and UK Begin Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘KONKAN-2025’ off Western Coast with Full Carrier Strike Groups and Multinational Participation.

Defence | Dated: 08 Oct 2025

In October 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Navy (RN) of the United Kingdom (UK) commenced the bilateral maritime exercise ‘KONKAN-2025’ off India’s western coast, strengthening naval cooperation and operational coordination between the two nations.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The exercise, scheduled from October 5 to 12, 2025, was conducted in two distinct stages — the Harbour Phase (October 5–8) focusing on professional and cultural interactions, and the Sea Phase (October 9–12) emphasizing complex maritime operations and combat drills.
  • - ‘KONKAN-2025’ marks the first-ever deployment of full Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) from both India and the UK, showcasing enhanced maritime partnership and defence synergy in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • - The exercise aims to boost interoperability, strengthen mutual understanding, and improve maritime security coordination between the Indian and Royal Navies, particularly for regional stability and strategic deterrence.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The Indian Navy was represented by INS Vikrant — India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier — supported by destroyers, submarines, and aviation units. The Royal Navy deployed HMS Prince of Wales, its flagship aircraft carrier, leading a task group of destroyers, frigates, and logistics vessels.
  • (ii) For the first time, naval assets from Norway and Japan joined Exercise KONKAN, symbolizing growing multilateral cooperation among democratic maritime powers in the Indo-Pacific framework.
  • (iii) The Sea Phase included advanced tactical operations such as Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) — focusing on joint combat readiness, air defence coordination, and submarine detection capabilities.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which bilateral maritime exercise was recently conducted by the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy off India’s western coast in October 2025?

Correct Answer: KONKAN-2025

🚀 Quick Recap:

About United Kingdom (UK)

  • Prime Minister (PM) : Keir Starmer
  • Capital : London