Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales have operated side by side for the first time in the Indian Ocean.
The groups led by the two carriers worked side-by-side for four days as part of Exercise Konkan, as per a recent Royal Navy press statement.
The drills included a combined submarine hunt where an Indian Navy boat attempted to remain hidden from warships, helicopters and P8 Neptune maritime patrol aircraft.
Mig-29 fighter jets from INS Vikrant also practised dogfights with F-35 Lightnings from HMS Prince of Wales.
The U.K. Carrier Strike Group’s Commander Commodore James Blackmore commented: “Exercise Konkan showed the increasing strength of our partnership with the Indian Navy.
“Training together not only deepens our cooperation, but also reflects the UK’s enduring commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
The exercises took place in the latest phase of Operation Highmast, an eight-month mission involving 12 nations which has seen the task group pass through the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indian Ocean visiting Singapore and Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Now ships from the CSG are paying visits to Indian ports: HMS Prince of Wales will spend several days in Goa, while frigate HMS Richmond is visiting Mumbai.
The Type 23 frigate’s arrival was timed to coincide with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the city to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Further aerial defence exercises are planned with the Indian Air Force to test tactics once the port vissits have been completed.
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website