According to information published by the Indian government on March 23, 2023, Konkan 2023, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, was held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.
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Talwar class frigate INS Trishul and Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster. (Picture source: Indian government)
INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition and undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.
The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface, and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target ‘Killer Tomato’, helicopter operations, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel.
The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies. A high level of professionalism and enthusiasm was also evident during its conduct.
The focus personnel exhibited on op-readiness, enhancing interoperability, and improving the ability to conduct joint operations will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the IN and RN to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region.
INS Trishul
She has a displacement of 3,620 tons (standard) and 4,035 tons (full), with a length of 124.8 meters (409 feet), a beam of 15.2 meters (50 feet), and a draught of 4.5 meters (15 feet).
The vessel is powered by 2 DS-71 cruise turbines and 2 DT-59 boost turbines, providing a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The vessel has a range of 4,850 nautical miles (8,980 km; 5,580 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The complement consists of 180 personnel (including 18 officers).
The armament includes 24 Shtil-1 medium-range anti-aircraft missiles, 8 Igla-1E (SA-16) anti-aircraft missiles, 8 VLS-launched Klub anti-ship cruise missiles, 1 100 mm (3.9 in) A-190E naval gun, 2 Kashtan CIWS guns, 2 sets of 2 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes, and 1 RBU-6000 (RPK-8) rocket launcher for anti-submarine warfare. The vessel can carry 1 Ka-28 Helix-A, Ka-31 Helix B, or HAL Dhruv aircraft.
