MUMBAI: Indian Navy and the British Royal Navy are staging a joint tactical exercise, Konkan 06, off the west coast, between Goa and Mumbai.It is a fully simulated naval war.

The first part of the Konkan 06, harbour phase is under way. It includes collective planning of the operation and training.

The second phase would be the combat part that includes surface and anti-submarine warfare in multi-threat scenario, naval air warfare, command and control warfare and fleet air defence, according to Captain Abhay Lambhate, a naval spokesman here.

The exercise that began on May 17 will continue till May 29.

The action also includes cross-deck flying in which helicopters of both the navies will land and take off from each other's warships, search and rescue missions and naval gun support.

Rear Admiral Anoop Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet is leading the Indian task group flying his flag on missile destroyer INS Mumbai.

Other warships are missiles frigates INS Ganga, INS Brahmaputra and INS Godavari, hunter-killer submarine, INS Shankush support vessel, INS Shakti.

The Royal Navy's participants are HMS Illustrious, an aircraft carrier of 22000-ton displacement, having a squadron of Harrier GR7 ground attack aircraft, a joint force of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The carrier flies the flag of UK Maritime Forces Commander, Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti.

The British carrier is accompanied by HMS Gloucester, 5200-ton destroyer and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships Fort Victoria and Diligence.

Interesting aspect

But the interesting aspect of the U.K. task group is the presence of French stealth frigate of Lafayette class, FS Surcouf, in its ranks.

A British submarine is also a part of the group. According to a maritime source, the British submarine could be nuclear-powered HMS Sovereign.

The Illustrious is also having Sea King airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters and Merlin anti-submarine choppers. The carrier operates as both, strike and command ship.

The Illustrious task group is on a long operational deployment called, Aquila 06 in the Indian Ocean region and besides demonstrating Britain's ability to deploy, operate and sustain a maritime task force, it is also supporting the coalition forces.

Shift in role

The Konkan 06 is significant because of the shift in the role of the British aircraft carriers, from sea control of the Cold War era to that of maritime strike and air operations against land targets in littoral environment.

The group has exercised with French, American, Omani and Pakistani navies in the region.

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