Exercise Konkan
Why in news?
Exercise Konkan 2025 is a significant bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the UK Royal Navy, commenced on October 5, 2025, off India's western coast.
Key points of Exercise Konkan 2025:
- Bilateral naval exercise between Indian Navy and UK Royal Navy, initiated in 2004, biennial since then.
- First-ever to involve aircraft carriers from both nations (INS Vikrant and HMS Prince of Wales).
- Two phases: Harbour phase (professional, cultural, and sports exchanges) and Sea phase (multi-domain maritime drills).
- The drills focus on anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, flying operations, and advanced seamanship.
- Reinforces India-UK strategic defense ties and maritime security under Vision 2035.
- Part of UK's Operation Highmast multinational deployment.
- Enhances regional security and stability with multinational participation (including Norway and Japan).
- Exercises enhance operational readiness, interoperability, and mutual understanding between navies.
