The bilateral Exercise KONKAN-2025 between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy commenced today off the western coast of India. The exercise reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to ensuring secure, open, and free seas and exemplifies the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035. The exercise will be conducted in two phases from 5 to 12 October 2025.
The harbour phase will feature professional interactions between naval personnel, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and cultural exchanges. Joint Working Group meetings and Subject Matter Expert exchanges are also planned. The sea phase will involve complex maritime operational drills focusing on anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, flying operations, and other seamanship evolutions. Both navies will deploy frontline assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and integral as well as shore-based air assets. The participation of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG-25), led by HMS Prince of Wales, and including assets from Norway and Japan, adds further significance to this year’s edition.
The Indian Navy will be represented by the carrier battle group of the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, along with other surface, sub-surface, and air combatants. Upon conclusion of Exercise KONKAN-2025 with the Indian Navy on 12 October 2025, the UK CSG-25 is scheduled to undertake a one-day exercise with the Indian Air Force off the western coast of India on 14 October 2025, before continuing its planned deployment.
