INS Trishul Arrives in UK for Exercise KONKAN-26

The Indian Navy’s guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived in Plymouth, United Kingdom, on 8 October 2026 for Exercise KONKAN-26. The annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy is scheduled to run from 8 to 15 October off Plymouth.

India-UK Naval Exercise

KONKAN is a bilateral exercise involving the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy. KONKAN-26 is organised in two phases: a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase. The exercise includes professional interactions and operational activities involving personnel and ships from both navies. The harbour phase features professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures and cultural engagements. Cross-deck visits allow personnel from one navy to visit a ship operated by the other navy. INS Trishul is also open to visitors during this phase.

Maritime Operations and Naval Warfare

The sea phase includes operational drills across air, surface and sub-surface domains. Activities include flying operations, firing exercises, air-defence drills, seamanship evolutions and anti-submarine warfare exercises. Anti-submarine warfare involves detecting, tracking and countering submarines. Air-defence drills train naval forces to respond to aerial threats, while seamanship evolutions involve practical ship-handling and navigation activities. The exercise’s drills are intended to develop interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies.

INS Trishul’s Deployment and Partnership

Before reaching Plymouth, INS Trishul took part in the 24th Varuna exercise with the French Navy at Toulon and made a port call at Valencia, Spain. Varuna is a bilateral naval exercise between India and France. KONKAN-26 is aligned with the India-UK Vision 2035 for a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The exercise’s harbour and sea phases combine professional exchanges with operational naval training.

Important Facts for Exams

:

• INS Trishul is a guided-missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.
• Exercise KONKAN-26 is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy.
• The sea phase includes drills in air, surface and sub-surface domains.
• INS Trishul participated in the 24th Varuna exercise with the French Navy before arriving in Plymouth.

KONKAN-26 is scheduled off Plymouth from 8 to 15 October 2026. Its activities include air-defence, firing and anti-submarine warfare exercises.