Between October 5 and 12, 2025, the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy conducted the bilateral exercise Konkan-25 off India’s western coast. The activity included both harbor and sea phases, aimed at enhancing interoperability through advanced maneuvers across all domains of maritime operations. The exercise featured units from India’s Western Fleet, led by the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant under the Western Naval Command, and units from the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) led by the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The Japanese destroyer JS Akebono and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen also took part.
The participation of HMS Prince of Wales in Konkan-25 took place within the framework of Operation Highmast, the UK’s ongoing effort to consolidate the Full Operating Capability (FOC) of its carrier strike group. Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UKCSG, explained that the mission has focused on “developing the full operational capability of the UK Carrier Strike Group, strengthening partnerships with Indo-Pacific allies, and maintaining interoperability with NATO forces.”
The British deployment in the Indo-Pacific, launched eight months ago, included port calls in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and India, as well as several multinational exercises. During July and August, the UKCSG took part in Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia alongside the U.S. Navy and other allied forces, achieving 16 F-35B Lightning II sorties within a 24-hour period. Blackmore described this performance as “a major step toward achieving full operational capability.”
As part of Highmast, the British group also conducted dual-carrier operations with USS George Washington in the Timor Sea and joint maneuvers with Japan’s JS Kaga and the U.S. USS America in the Philippine Sea. During these activities, British F-35Bs carried out takeoffs and landings on Japanese and American vessels, extending their operational reach through refueling and maintenance on allied platforms.
Prior to arriving in India, HMS Prince of Wales participated in Bersama Lima 2025 off the coast of Malaysia, as part of Operation Highmast. This annual exercise, organized by the member nations of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) —Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom— involved ships from those countries, including the British carrier equipped with F-35B fighters.
During its transit to the Indian Ocean, the UKCSG operated in the South China Sea, where it was shadowed by vessels of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Regarding this, Blackmore stated: “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to see how the PLAN operates and for them to see how we operate. These are international waters, and everyone has the right to be there.”
The 2025 edition of Konkan marked the first time that the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant conducted joint operations in the Indian Ocean, strengthening naval cooperation between both countries and their regional partners.
Images courtesy of the UK Ministry of Defence.
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