UK’s CSG and Exercise Konkan Shakti
UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Bay of Bengal
The UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into the Bay of Bengal mid-October 2021 in a powerful demonstration of the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed by both Prime Ministers in May 2021. In its most substantial port visit to date, the CSG provided a platform for a wide range of cultural demonstrations and trade and investment initiatives. Subsequently, the CSG took part in the most demanding exercises ever between the UK and India, incorporating elements from all three military services.
British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis stated, “India is an essential partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific region. The Carrier Strike Group’s visit demonstrates the deepening of the UK and India’s defence and security partnership. Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson agreed to work in lockstep for our shared security and prosperity. This visit will boost the cooperation of our armed forces and show the living bridge connecting our people.”
First Sea Lord Adm Tony Radakin stated, “The CSG’s engagement with India showcases the deepening comprehensive strategic partnership. Both the Indian and the Royal Navy are blue-water, multi-carrier navies, which places us in a very exclusive club. Our growing interactions are a testimony to the shared commitment to rules-based international system, a belief in the values of open trade, and in the importance of the freedom of the high seas – a right conveyed on all nations.”
Maiden India–UK joint tri-service Exercise Konkan Shakti 2021
The maiden India–UK Joint Tri-Service exercise Ex Konkan Shakti took place from 21-27 October 2021. The maritime component of the exercise, conducted off the west coast of India, was held in two phases. The harbour phase was at Mumbai from 21-23 October, while at sea, the exercises were conducted from 2427 October. The naval linkages between India and the United Kingdom is one of antiquity and, over a period, it has grown substantially in terms of interoperability and synergy. 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.
Royal Navy (RN) was represented by its aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, with her integral F35 fighter aircraft and helicopters, the Type 45 Daring Class airdefence destroyer HMS Defender, the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria, and a Royal Netherland Navy Frigate HNLMS Evertsen. The Indian Navy (IN) was 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 as well as the tanker INS Aditya. The IN also participated with their integral Sea King 42B, Kamov- 31 and Chetak helicopters, MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Dornier 228MPA and P8I (maritime patrol aircraft) and a submarine.
The sea phase of maiden Tri-Service exercise ‘Konkan Shakti 2021’ between the Armed Forces of India and United Kingdom (UK) was held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. On completion of harbour planning phase, the sea phase of the exercise commenced on 24 October and continued till 27 October.
All participating units were split into two opposing forces with the aim of achieving sea control to land army ground-troops at a predesignated site. One force was led by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and comprised the flag ship 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.
The two forces integrated within their groups with exercises such as replenishment at sea approaches, air direction and strike operations by fighter aircraft (MiG-29Ks and F35Bs), cross control of helicopters (Sea King, Chetak and Wildcat), transiting through war-at-sea scenarios and gun shoots on expendable air targets. The simulated induction of Army troops was also undertaken, followed by setting up of a joint command operations centre. Thereafter, the two forces effected a rendezvous at sea with advanced air and sub-surface exercises.
The air operations included strikes on the combined formation by Indian maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) Dorniers, fighters of the Indian Navy (MiG-29Ks), Royal Navy (F35Bs) and Indian Air Force (Su-30MKIs and Jaguars) as well as a composite fly past over the formation. Sub-surface exercises with an Indian Scorpene class submarine and underwater remote controlled vehicle EMATT, operated by the Royal Navy, were undertaken through the night. Indian Navy P8I’s also participated in the exercise.