Mumbai, India – On Thursday, the Indian Navy and the UK Royal Navy began their first joint Carrier Strike Group (CSG) drills as part of Exercise KONKAN‑25, which kicked off off India’s west coast on October 5 and is now underway in the Western Indian Ocean.
The move followed a high‑profile visit from UK Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker, who praised the drills as proof of the strong ties between the two countries. Coaker said the cooperation comes “just after the wonderful visit of our Prime Minister to meet your Prime Minister” and highlighted the close partnership between India’s Prime Minister Modi and Britain’s Prime Minister Starmer.
State Defence Minister Sanjay Seth also met with Coaker in Mumbai. During the talks the two sides reviewed their current defence engagements and discussed ways to deepen cooperation. Seth noted that the UK CSG, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, had successfully finished the sea phase of KONKAN‑25 with the Indian fleet off the west coast. The carrier group is now cycling through harbor‑phase exercises in Mumbai and Goa.
For the first time, India’s carrier battle group, led by the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales have operated together at sea. The joint drills aim to boost interoperability and reflect the growing depth of the maritime partnership between the two nations.
The UK CSG is on an eight‑month deployment under Operation Highmast. It has joined the Indian Navy for four days of advanced maritime exercises that feature coordinated operations among surface ships, submarines and naval aircraft from both sides. Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said it was a privilege to lead the deployment in the Indo‑Pacific, especially in Mumbai. He noted that the group departed the UK on April 22 and will finish Operation Highmast in about 50 days.
HMS Prince of Wales is a 65,000‑tonne Queen Elizabeth‑class aircraft carrier – the largest vessel ever built in the UK. The group also includes HMS Richmond (Type 23 frigate), HMS Dauntless (Type 45 destroyer), Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships and ships from partner nations such as Norway and Japan.
INS Vikrant, the Indian carrier, is backed by destroyers, frigates, submarines and naval aircraft, making the joint exercise a comprehensive test of combined naval forces.
Exercise KONKAN has been held every two years since 2004 and has grown in size and complexity. The latest edition focuses on enhancing maritime‑air operations, tactical coordination and mutual understanding between the Indian and Royal Navies. ()
Source: aninews
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
