The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, on Sunday commenced Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy in the Western Indian Ocean.
The four-day maritime drill aims to enhance combined maritime and air capabilities between the two navies. First held in 2004, Exercise Konkan has traditionally been a biennial engagement. This edition, however, marks the first-ever exercise involving the CSG of both nations — the U.K.’s HMS Prince of Wales and India’s INS Vikrant.
The U.K. CSG, currently on an eight-month global deployment dubbed Operation Highmast, has linked up with the Indian Navy’s carrier task force for complex multi-domain operations, including anti-submarine warfare, cross-deck flying operations, and air defence drills.
Following the exercise, the British warships will make port calls in Mumbai and Goa, highlighting deepening defence ties while showcasing British trade and industry and the strong “living bridge” of people and culture between the U.K. and India.
British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said, “The U.K. and India believe in an Indo-Pacific that is free and open. We share an ambition for a modern defence and security partnership, a fundamental pillar of U.K.-India Vision 2035, agreed by our Prime Ministers this year. The engagements between the CSG of our two navies demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the rules-based international order in the region and lay the groundwork for future cooperation.”
Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the U.K. CSG, added that the partnership reinforces shared commitments to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Aerial defence exercise
Upon completion of the port visits, the U.K. CSG will conduct an aerial defence exercise with the Indian Air Force, allowing both forces to test tactics and strengthen interoperability.
Operation Highmast is a multinational deployment led by the U.K. CSG, providing an opportunity for the U.K.’s Armed Forces to conduct a major global deployment and exercise complex operations alongside allies in the region, with 12 other nations supporting the deployment with ships or personnel.
