Exercise KONKAN-25 (India–U.K. Naval Exercise)

Exercise KONKAN-25 marks the latest edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between India and the United Kingdom, first held in 2004.

Traditionally a biennial exercise, this is the first edition involving both nations’ Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs).

United Kingdom: HMS Prince of Wales — the flagship aircraft carrier of the U.K. Royal Navy.

India: INS Vikrant — India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier.

Both Carrier Groups carried out complex multi-domain operations, including:

• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Cross-deck flying operations

• Air Defence drills

• Maritime surveillance and interoperability exercises

Enhances joint maritime and air operational capability between the two navies.

Promotes interoperability and mutual understanding in the Indo-Pacific, a region of shared strategic interest.

Demonstrates the growing India–U.K. defence cooperation under the U.K.–India Vision 2035, a roadmap agreed upon by both Prime Ministers in 2025.

Reinforces the commitment to a “Free, Open, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.”

The exercise coincides with the U.K.’s Operation Highmast, an eight-month global deployment of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

• Operation includes 12 participating nations, enhancing regional maritime security and cooperation.

Following the exercise, British warships will make port calls at Mumbai and Goa, symbolizing deepening ties and the “living bridge” of people, culture, and trade between both nations.