India - UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) – Exercise Konkan

Why in news?

Recently, U.K. and India launches historic first ever Carrier Strike Group Exercise Konkan, a maritime drill off the Western coast of India.

What needs to be known about Exercise Konkan?

• First held in – 2004, Exercise Konkan is a biennial (every 2 years) engagement.
• Duration & location – The exercise took place from October 5–12, 2025, off India's western coast.
• Aim – To enhance combined maritime and air capabilities between the UK and Indian navies on the high seas.
• First ever exercise – The 2025 edition of Exercise Konkan, marks the first-ever exercise involving the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of both nations - the U.K.’s HMS Prince of Wales and India’s INS Vikrant.

Carriers in naval context, are warships that can serve as airbases, too.

• Exercise Konkan 2025 will serve as a platform to consolidate strategic ties, enhance interoperability and contribute to regional maritime stability.

The Indian Navy's 1^st aircraft carrier was HMS Hercules, acquired from the United Kingdom in 1961 and renamed INS Vikrant. It was decommissioned in 1997.

• Post-exercise integration – After Exercise Konkan concluded, UK CSG 25 participated in a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force on October 14, further integrating naval and air capabilities.

What are the phases of the exercise?

• 2 phases – The exercise is being conducted in two phases – Sea phase and Harbour phase.
• Sea phase – Includes maritime operational drills focusing on anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine exercises, flying operations and other seamanship evolutions.
• Both participating nations deployed frontline assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates (a type of warship), submarines, and integral and shore-based air assets.
• Harbour phase – Includes professional interactions between naval personnel, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and cultural engagements.
• Additionally, Joint Working Group meetings and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges are also scheduled.

What is the significance of Exercise Konkan?

• Indo-Pacific as focus – This exercise underlines the growing strategic alignment between the two countries in safeguarding the crucial Indo-Pacific region.
• Enhances interoperability – The drills help the navies operate more effectively together and improve combined maritime and air capabilities.
• Boosts maritime security – The exercise showcases combined naval strength and contributes to regional maritime stability.
• Deepening defence ties – This exercise highlights by deepening defence ties while showcasing British trade and industry and the strong “living bridge” of people and culture between the U.K. and India.
• Strengthens ties – It reaffirms the two nations' commitment to a free, open, and free sea, in line with the "India-UK Vision 2035" comprehensive strategic partnership.

The India-UK Vision 2035 is a comprehensive strategic roadmap launched in July 2025 to elevate bilateral ties across 5 key pillars - Growth, Technology, Defence, Climate, and Education.

• Focal role of CSG – This CSG operation play a focal role in projecting power, ensuring sea control, and addressing evolving blue-water (open sea) security challenges such as maritime domain awareness, deterrence, and freedom of navigation.
• The two navies operating together point to not just operational synergy, but also commitment to a rules-based maritime order amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
• Global deployment – The UK CSG's participation was part of its wider, eight-month-long "Operation Highmast" deployment.

Operation Highmast – An 8-month multinational deployment led by the UK CSG to the Indo-Pacific region in 2025; to strengthen alliances, promote maritime security in the region.

Quick Fact

Reference

The Indian Express | Exercise Konkan 2025