According to a press release by the Indian Navy on Thursday, maiden India-UK Joint Tri-Service exercise Konkan Shakti is scheduled to be held in two phases.

" The harbour phase is planned at Mumbai from October 21 to 23, while at sea, the exercises will be conducted from October 24 to 27," said the release.

"Over decades now, both navies have undertaken bilateral exercises, exchanges and enhanced their technical cooperation. Rightly so, this has formed the basis for the maiden tri-service bilateral exercise, Konkan Shakti -21," said the release.

According to the release, 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.

Besides, 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 release informed, "The exercise at sea will feature advanced warfare tactics, Anti-Submarine Warfare exercises, over-the-horizon targeting drills, Air Defence Exercise, Cross Deck landings and other complex manoeuvres at sea."

Earlier, the Indian Air Force participated in an operational engagement with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on October 19 and 20.

The land phase of the exercise is being conducted between the Indian Army and UK Army at Chaubatia from October 21 to 27 under the aegis of Golden Key Division of Surya Command.

"The Joint Company Level Exercise between the two nations is aimed at training troops in the conduct of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Operations by coalition forces in an opposed environment," said the release

Image Courtesy: Economic Times