The India Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy have launched their first-ever joint aircraft carrier strike operation under Exercise Konkan 2025.
This marks a significant step in bilateral defense cooperation and maritime partnership.
The historic exercise, taking place in the western Indian Ocean, brings together India’s INS Vikrant and the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales, supported by destroyers, frigates, submarines, and aircraft.
The four-day engagement aims to enhance joint air and maritime warfare capabilities, improve interoperability, and strengthen strategic ties between the two nations.
India-UK Maritime Cooperation
According to a statement from UK Defence, the exercise represents “a historic first” linking both nations’ carrier strike groups to bolster collective maritime strength.
It shows the growing security collaboration between New Delhi and London amid evolving regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
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British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron said the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to peace and stability in global waters.
“This operation is a landmark moment that underscores our determination to keep the seas open, free, and secure,” said Cameron.
India’s Ministry of Defence also hailed the exercise as a step forward in operational coordination and mutual trust, noting that both navies share a long-standing tradition of maritime excellence.
“Exercise Konkan 2025 reinforces our strong defence partnership and the spirit of collaboration in addressing emerging security challenges,” the ministry stated.
Regional Stability and Security Enhanced
The joint strike operation takes place amid rising concerns over China’s expanding naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Analysts say such collaborations strengthen Indian and the UK’s ability to maintain freedom of navigation and safeguard vital sea lanes.
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Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, who leads the Indian carrier battle group, said the drill will deepen professional synergy.
“By operating side by side, we are learning from each other and enhancing combat readiness in complex maritime environments,” he remarked.
The Royal Navy echoed similar sentiments, describing the exercise as a “demonstration of unity and strength.”
“When two world-class carrier groups train together, the outcome is greater than the sum of its parts,” noted Captain Richard Hewitt of HMS Prince of Wales.
The operation is also expected to reinforce India’s growing maritime partnerships with Western allies in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Indian Navy concluded that the exercise not only builds tactical skills but also deepens diplomatic and defence ties, setting the stage for more integrated operations in the future.
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