Article Posted on : - Mar 24, 2023

Indian Navy and the British Royal Navy have concluded the annual bilateral maritime exercise 'Konkan 2023' off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. (Photo: MoD)

NEW DELHI (BNS): Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of UK have concluded the annual bilateral maritime exercise ‘Konkan 2023’  off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.

The naval drill was held from March 20 – 22, 2023, the Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Trishul and Royal Navy’s Type 23 guided missile frigate HMS Lancaster undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.

The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target ‘Killer Tomato’, helicopter operations, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel, the statement said.

“The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies. A high level of professionalism and enthusiasm was also evident during its conduct.

“The focus personnel exhibited on op-readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the IN and RN to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region,” the MoD statement said.