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.

This exercise signifies growing defense collaboration and a shared vision for rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.

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