Overview

• Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales operated together at sea on Oct. 6–7, marking the first paired carrier strike group activity between the two navies.
• Exercise Konkan‑25 runs Oct. 5–12 in two phases, with complex anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine and flight operations at sea followed by harbour engagements and cross-deck exchanges.
• The UK Carrier Strike Group is led by HMS Prince of Wales and includes HMS Dauntless, HMS Richmond and RFA Tidespring, with allied participation from Japan’s JS Akebono and Norway’s HNoMS Roald Amundsen.
• Officials from both countries say the drills build interoperability and support a rules-based maritime order as part of the India–UK Vision 2035 comprehensive strategic partnership.
• After sea operations, the UK group will make port calls in Mumbai and Goa and is scheduled for a one-day exercise with the Indian Air Force on Oct. 14 before continuing its deployment.