Published: 5 October 2025PIBDefence Security
Exercise Konkan 2025: India-UK First-Ever Joint Carrier Strike Group Exercise Begins
Exercise Konkan 2025, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (United Kingdom), was conducted from October 5-12, 2025, off India's western coast in the Arabian Sea. This year's edition marked the first-ever exercise featuring both nations' Carrier Strike Groups.
INS Vikrant and HMS Prince of Wales led the historic joint operations. The British deployed six F-35B Lightning II fighters and four Merlin Mk2 helicopters, while INS Vikrant embarked eight MiG-29K fighters and four Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters. Japanese destroyer JS Akebono and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen also participated. The exercise included air-sea warfare, anti-submarine operations, and coordinated flight operations.
0Mains angle
Q: Analyse the strategic significance of Exercise Konkan 2025, the first-ever India-UK joint Carrier Strike Group exercise, for India's maritime security posture.
Answer (50 words):
Exercise Konkan 2025 (October 5-12, Arabian Sea) saw INS Vikrant and HMS Prince of Wales jointly lead the first-ever India-UK Carrier Strike Group exercise. Deploying MiG-29K, F-35B, Merlin and Kamov assets alongside Japanese and Norwegian warships, it advanced carrier interoperability, anti-submarine warfare readiness and India's broader Indo-Pacific maritime partnership architecture.
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INS Androth, delivered by GRSE in September 2025, is which number in the ASW SWC series?
Explanation · Correct answer AAndroth is the 2nd of 8 ASW SWCs; 77m long with 88% indigenous content and GRSE-made 30mm Naval Surface Gun.
Frequently asked questions
What is Exercise Konkan 2025 and when was it held?
**Exercise Konkan 2025** is the bilateral naval exercise between the **Indian Navy and Royal Navy (UK)**, conducted **October 5-12, 2025** off India's western coast in the Arabian Sea.
What was historic about Exercise Konkan 2025?
Exercise Konkan 2025 was the **first-ever exercise featuring both nations' Carrier Strike Groups** — India's **INS Vikrant** and the UK's **HMS Prince of Wales** — conducting joint carrier operations.
What aircraft were deployed in Exercise Konkan 2025?
The UK deployed **six F-35B Lightning II fighters**; India's INS Vikrant embarked **eight MiG-29K fighters** and **four Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters**. Japan (JS Akebono) and Norway (HNoMS Roald Amundsen) also participated.
Which other nations participated in Exercise Konkan 2025?
Besides India and UK, **Japan** (destroyer JS Akebono) and **Norway** (frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen) also participated in Exercise Konkan 2025 in the Arabian Sea.
What types of operations were conducted in Exercise Konkan 2025?
Exercise Konkan 2025 included **air-sea warfare**, **anti-submarine operations**, **anti-air and anti-surface warfare drills**, and **coordinated carrier flight operations** between Indian and UK carrier strike groups.
