Konkan 16, bilateral maritime exercise between India and UK, begins

Konkan 16, the 2016 edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Britain, commenced in 5 December 2016 at Mumbai. The exercise will conclude on 16 December 2016 in Goa.

The 2016 edition of the bilateral maritime exercise will familiarise both forces with each other’s planning processes and further enhance synergy and inter-operability. Therefore, it will play an important chapter in the maritime interactions under the aegis of Konkan series.

In addition, participation of IN Marine Commandos (MARCOs) and Royal Marines would add another dimension to the exercise. It will provide valuable opportunity for both navies to interact and cooperate in the field of maritime security operations.

Key highlights of the exercise

• The exercise will be conducted in two phases at Mumbai and Goa.

• The first phase will be held from 5 December to 9 December 2016.

• The first phase will include a Command Planning exercise involving the two navies. The planners from both sides will undertake planning for combined maritime operations.

• The second phase of the exercise is known as a LIVE EXERCISE (LIVEX). It will be held from 12 December 2016 to 16 December 2016 at Goa.

• The second phase will include interaction between the MARCOs and the Royal Marines.

• Both the phases will involve sharing of best practices and lessons learnt from recent operations, especially in the field of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO).

About Exercise Konkan

• Exercise Konkan is named after the Western coastal region of India.

• It was institutionalised in 2004.

• Successive editions of Konkan have built on past experiences and have enhanced operational inter-operability between the two navies.