HMS Richmond comes calling at Mumbai port after exercise Konkan

HMS Richmond, which is a part of the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), made a port call to Mumbai after completing exercise Konkan, the historic bilateral naval exercise between HMS Prince of Wales and INS Vikrant in the Indian Ocean region. 

“It was a unique opportunity for the first time to bring together both the newest aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy and also for the United Kingdom. We have learnt a lot, we have advanced our interoperability goals in the maritime and in the air environment. We couldn’t ask for anything more from the very well-planned and very well-executed Konkan exercise,” Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the CSG, told The Hindu on-board HMS Richmond.

On the background of the strategic challenges in the Indian Ocean region and the growing capability of China, he said, “The more we co-operate and work together as Carrier Blue water navies, is the key, given that at any moment we might be required to operate together.”

Speaking to reporters, Minister of State (Minister for the House of Lords) Lord Coaker said, “The agreement (between India and U.K.) should move forward with respect to electric propulsion and Indian ships and also, increasing training and educational opportunities, for both the Indian officers to come to the UK and but also hopefully in the not too distant future for U.K. officers to come to India. So all around the defence industry that we see here today is also really important, and we hope further agreements can be made, further arrangements could be made between industry in the UK and industry in India for the benefits of both the countries and the benefit of our two great nations.”