Exercise KONKAN-26

About Exercise KONKAN-26

• Exercise KONKAN-26 is bilateral maritime exercise between India and UK.
• It is conducted annually. 
• Aim: It aims to strengthen the ability of both Navies to operate seamlessly in complex maritime scenarios, reinforcing their enduring partnership and shared commitment to maritime peace and security.
• The exercise is a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to ensuring secure, open and free seas and exemplifies the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035.
• Inaugural Edition: The first edition of the exercise was conducted in 2004.
• 2026 Edition: 
  • Location: The exercise is being conducted off Plymouth, UK from 08-15 Oct 26.
• Features:
  • Indian Navy Participant: INS Trishul (guided-missile stealth frigate) has been deployed to participate in Exercise KONKAN 2026.
  • It involves Harbour and Sea Phase:
    • The Harbour Phase includes a broad spectrum of professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, cultural engagements and the ship being open to visitors.
    • The Sea Phase will encompass complex maritime operational drills across all three domains – air, surface and sub-surface.
      • It involves flying operations involving cross-deck landings, firing serials, air defence exercises, complex seamanship evolutions and anti-submarine exercises.
• Other Exercises Between India and UK:
  • Exercise Indradhanush: It is a joint bilateral air exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the UK.
  • Exercise Ajeya Warrior (Indian Army): It is biennial joint military exercise between Indian Army and British Army.

About INS Trishul Indian Naval Ship Trishul is a Talwar-class guided missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. Commission year: It was commissioned in 2003.  Features: It is a 125-metre-long warship equipped with state-of-the-art systems and stealth technology. Displacement: It has a displacement capacity of 3,700 tonnes. Speed and Endurance: It can achieve a maximum speed of over 30 knots and remain at sea for up to 30 days. Armaments: INS Trishul became the second Indian warship to be equipped with an eight-cell KBSM 3S-14NE vertical launch system. It was also the first to launch the supersonic BrahMos PJ-10 anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile, jointly designed by India and Russia.