![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
In a significant showcase of strengthening defence relations between India and the UK, the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and HMS Prince of Wales have joined forces for the first time during Exercise Konkan-2025. A high-intensity maritime drill is currently underway in the Arabian Sea when the British Prime Minister, Keith Starmer, touched down in Mumbai today. The exercise represents a pivotal moment in bilateral naval cooperation, sending a strong message about their shared commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of freedom of navigation.
A Milestone in Carrier Cooperation
It is the first-ever carrier-to-carrier operation between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the UK, showcasing their ability to coordinate complex air and sea operations. The presence of INS Vikrant, India’s indigenously built carrier, alongside HMS Prince of Wales, the flagship of UK Carrier Strike Group 25 (UK CSG-25), highlights the expanding scope and sophistication of India–UK military engagement.
For the first time, India’s MiG-29K fighters and Britain’s US-made F-35B stealth aircraft are flying in a shared operational environment, an unprecedented step toward carrier interoperability and cross-deck synergy.
Konkan-2025: The Most Expansive Edition Yet
This year’s edition of Exercise Konkan is the most ambitious to date. In addition to India and the UK, naval assets from Japan and Norway have joined certain phases, reflecting a widening coalition of like-minded maritime democracies committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The week-long exercise, held from October 5–12, is structured in two phases:
- Harbour Phase – Focused on professional exchanges, tactical planning, cross-deck visits, and cultural interactions to strengthen people-to-people links.
- Sea Phase – The core operational stage involving anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare drills, advanced carrier flight operations, and joint tactical manoeuvres across multiple domains.
Strategic Messaging: Partnership in Action
Exercise Konkan-2025 goes beyond symbolic cooperation—it underscores the strategic convergence between New Delhi and London in the maritime domain. The combined presence of two carrier groups in the Arabian Sea signals joint deterrence, operational readiness, and shared responsibility for regional stability.
As global power balances shift and the Indo-Pacific emerges as the new centre of strategic gravity, India and the UK are positioning themselves as trusted security partners capable of responding to crises and ensuring safe sea lanes across vital trade routes.
Expanding Maritime Footprint and Future Outlook
The exercise follows the June 2025 PASSEX engagement between the two navies. It precedes a joint India–UK Air Force drill scheduled for October 14, marking an integrated land–sea–air engagement unprecedented in the bilateral relationship.
The UK’s increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific, including the forward deployment of naval assets and the formation of a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence with India, reflects a long-term vision of sustained regional engagement.
Huma Siddiqui
