India, UK hold joint maritime exercise 'Konkan' in Arabian Sea

Tags: Defence International News

The annual bilateral maritime exercise 'Konkan' between the Indian Navy and UK's Royal Navy was held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea from March 20-22. 

An overview of the news

• The joint exercise by both the navies demonstrated operational readiness, enhanced interoperability and improved capability to conduct joint operations.

• INS Trishul, a Guided Missile Frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 Guided Missile Frigate, participated in 'Konkan 2023' and conducted several maritime exercises to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.

• The exercise covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and subsurface.

• India and the UK agreed on new cooperation on maritime domain awareness, including new agreements on maritime information sharing,

• The UK has been invited to join India's Information Fusion Center in Gurugram.

About 'Konkan' exercise

• It is a bilateral naval exercise conducted between India and the United Kingdom.

• The Konkan series of exercises was started in 2004.

• Since then, the exercise is conducted by both the navies in rotation.

• The exercise provided excellent training to the personnel of both the navies.

Other Exercises between India and UK

• Exercise ‘Indradhanush’ (Air Force Exercise)

• 'Ajeya Warrior' (Joint Military Exercise)