The maiden India-UK Joint Tri-Service exercise Konkan Shakti,2021 commenced off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea that aims to derive “mutual benefits” from each other’s experiences.
- All participating units were split into two opposing forces with the aim of achieving ‘sea control’ to land Army ground-troops at a pre-designated site.
Key points
i.Among the two opposing forces,
- One force was led by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and comprised the flagship INS Chennai, other warships of the Indian Navy and HMS Richmond, the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate.
- The other force operated under the UK Carrier Strike Group comprising aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, other UK and Netherland naval ships, and Indian warships.
ii.The joint phase of the exercise would also include air-tactical operations involving F35Bs, MiG 29Ks and Indian Air Force elements.
iii.The exercise focused on multiple areas including enhancing aspects of interoperability and exchange of best practices.
iv.The land phase of the exercise is being conducted between Indian Army and UK Army at Chaubatia from 21 -27 October 2021 under the aegis of Golden Key Division of Surya Command. UK Army is being represented by officers and troops of the 1st Battalion of the Fusilier Regiment and the Indian Army is represented by the troops of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles. The Joint Company Level Exercise between the two nations is aimed at training troops in conduct of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Operations by coalition forces in an opposed environment.
Participants:
UK Participants – Royal Navy (RN) will be represented by its aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, with her integral F35 fighter aircraft and helicopters, the Type 45 Daring Class air-defence destroyer HMS Defender, the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria, and a Royal Netherland Navy Frigate HNLMS Evertsen.
India’s Participants – The Indian Navy (IN) would be represented by three of its indigenously built stealth guided missile destroyers INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai, two stealth frigates, INS Talwar and INS Teg, and the tanker INS Aditya. The IN will also be participating with integral Sea King 42B, Kamov-31 and Chetak helicopters, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Dornier and P8i (maritime patrol aircraft) and a submarine. The exercise will also see participation by IAF aircraft that include Jaguars, SU-30 MKI fighters, AWACS, AEW&C and Flight Refueling Aircraft.
Significance :
i.The growing interactions between India and UK creates commitment to the rules based interaction system.
ii.Enhances values of Open trade and belief in the importance of freedom in the high seas.
iii.Apart from the UK, India is also conducting a tri-services exercise with the US and Russia.
Tri-services between India and UK
i.Exercise Konkan – It is held annually since 2004 between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Britain.
ii.Exercise Indradhanush – bilateral air exercise held between Indian Airforce and Royal Airforce, UK
iii.Exercise Ajeya Warrior – Military exercise held between India and UK
Recent Related News
i.Exercise Konkan – 2021 , a bilateral naval exercise held between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Britain in Portsmouth, United Kingdom (UK).
ii.The Indian Naval Ship (INS Tabar), a Talwar class stealth frigate of Indian Navy and HMS Westminster of Royal Navy undertook the exercise in non contact form due to covid-19 pandemic.
About United Kingdom
Capital – London
Prime Minister – Boris Johnson
Currency – British Pound Sterling (GBP)
