Exercise Konkan has significantly boosted the interoperability between the Indian and UK navies, demonstrating their capacity to operate and integrate their carrier strike groups. Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, shared these insights on Friday.
This extensive eight-day naval wargame, conducted in the western Indian Ocean from October 5 to October 12, saw its sea phase conclude on October 8. Following this, the UK Navy is set to engage in a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force off India’s western coast on October 14.
The exercise aligns with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent two-day visit to India, which concluded on Thursday.
The maritime phase of Exercise Konkan featured advanced drills covering anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. It also included extensive flying operations and other crucial seamanship exercises. Both the UK and Indian navies deployed their most advanced assets, such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and various air assets.
The UK participated with its aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, while India showcased its indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Commodore Blackmore elaborated, “It truly allowed us to further enhance our interoperability and our ability to operate and integrate our two blue water carrier navies.”
He mentioned that the UK Carrier Strike Group embarked on its ‘Operation HighMast’ deployment to the Indo-Pacific on April 22. This operation aims to demonstrate the UK’s full operational capability with its carrier strike power, reaffirm its commitment to a rules-based international order, and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Commodore Blackmore emphasized that the region’s stability is intrinsically linked to global security, including the Atlantic.
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