Indian Navy's guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth, United Kingdom on October 11, 2026, to participate in the annual bilateral maritime Exercise KONKAN-26 with the Royal Navy. The exercise, scheduled from October 8-15, 2026, is conducted in two phases: a Harbour Phase including professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, cultural engagements, and public visitation opportunities, and a Sea Phase encompassing complex maritime operational drills across all three domains - air, surface, and sub-surface. The sea operations will include flying operations with cross-deck landings, firing serials, air defence exercises, complex seamanship evolutions, and anti-submarine exercises.
Exercise KONKAN represents a cornerstone of India-UK maritime cooperation that has grown significantly in scale and complexity over the past two decades, fostering enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies. The exercise serves as a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to ensuring secure, open, and free seas and exemplifies the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035 framework. By facilitating the exchange of best practices and mutual understanding, KONKAN-26 reinforces the ability of both navies to operate seamlessly in complex maritime scenarios, demonstrating enduring bonds and shared commitment to maritime peace and security.