HMS Richmond Returns After Exercise Konkan 2025

On 10th October 2025, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond arrived at Mumbai Port following the successful completion of Exercise Konkan 2025, conducted off India’s western coast from October 5 to 9, highlighting a significant milestone in India-UK defence cooperation.

Exercise Konkan 2025 marked the first-ever combined maritime drills between the British and Indian Carrier Strike Groups, with the UK’s 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales joining India’s INS Vikrant in showcasing joint air-sea combat capabilities.
The four-day exercise involved complex manoeuvres including fighter jets, helicopters, submarines, and surface ships, demonstrating operational coordination and interoperability between the two navies.
Exercise Konkan, held biennially since 2004, has been a cornerstone in strengthening bilateral defence ties, improving strategic cooperation, and enhancing the capacity for coordinated maritime operations between India and the United Kingdom.