The India-UK bilateral maritime exercise KONKAN-26 came to a close off Plymouth, UK, on 15 Oct 2026. Held from 08-15 Oct 2026, the exercise gave the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy an opportunity to work together across a broad range of professional and operational areas.
The stealth frigate INS Trishul represented the Indian Navy, while the Royal Navy fielded HMS Sutherland, a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate. The Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) conducted the exercise.
Held from 12-15 Oct 2026, the intensive four-day Sea Phase covered advanced seamanship manoeuvres, joint tactical exercises, communication procedures, anti-surface asymmetric warfare, anti-submarine warfare and weapon firings in a multi-threat maritime environment. These serials improved interoperability among the participating units.
By enabling the exchange of professional expertise and Best Practices, KONKAN-26 strengthened the Indian Navy's and the Royal Navy's ability to operate jointly in complex maritime scenarios, taking the enduring India-UK maritime partnership further.