British and Indian fast-jet pilots have gone head-to-head in a series of mock dogfights over the Arabian Sea as the UK Carrier Strike Group concluded its visit to India.
The exercise marked the culmination of Exercise Konkan 2025, a long-running bilateral training series designed to strengthen maritime and air cooperation between the two Commonwealth nations.
Led by HMS Prince of Wales, the strike group departed Goa and Mumbai following a week of engagements promoting UK industry and reinforcing defence ties. The air component featured six F-35B Lightning II jets defending the carrier against a dozen Indian Air Force aircraft, including eight Su-30MKI Flankers, four Jaguars, and an Il-78 Mainstay airborne early warning platform.
The simulated engagements tested both nations’ tactics, sensors, and interoperability in complex, multi-domain scenarios.
Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said the exercise reflected the “enduring strength” of the UK–India partnership. “It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside our colleagues in the Indian Navy and Air Force during Exercise Konkan,” he said.
The exercise began with HMS Prince of Wales operating alongside India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, before the group’s visit to Goa and Mumbai for a series of cultural and diplomatic events.
HMS Richmond hosted joint UK–India industry engagements attended by Defence Minister Lord Coaker, while her crew took part in community and sporting activities, including a 1–1 football match against the Indian Navy.
Royal Navy officers said Exercise Konkan had provided invaluable operational insights, particularly in integrating carrier operations and joint air power in the Indo-Pacific region. Lieutenant Daniel Randel, serving aboard HMS Prince of Wales, said: “Working with both the Indian Navy and Air Force has been a unique experience in my career so far.”
A very handy training exercise against Russian equipment.
I’m sure the media will soon be awash with reports from Indian media how they totally dominated the air to air with their old planes and they don’t need F35 😀
Oh yes I remember the time about a decade ago when Indian media was making claims of beating the RAF it still comes up now and then
Same with USAF when they trained with them. India media claims victory against everyone then gets hammered by Pakistan in the real world.
What? India hammered by pakistan? Literally India bombed 11 pakistani airbases. If pakistan really hammered India then why Pakistan PM thanking Trump for ceasefire?
Yes, I remember India claiming how badly their Air Force beat up the f-22s that they were exercising with…
3 days after your comment, nothing of the sort has been reported yet you were so sure
Stand by for the Indians to start shouting about how the beat a 5th Gen jet 20-0 because their aircraft and pilots are the best on the planet. Except against Pakistan of course
I was just about to say the same thing, even with the same stats as well. lol
Well Indian pilots are second to naan and their aircraft, when compared to the F35s, are more like spiceships.
So don’t tikka the pi$$.
And they have 2 turban engines..
Is there anything we can “Take Away” from this ?
Hehehe…
I best ask my ‘Naan’ if she has any thoughts on it.
Please do, It’s good to “Chaat”.
Deliberately no comment about how each side performed – clearly you would expect the RAF’s F35’s to have prevailed but they obviously don’t want to give anything away!!
Or should we say 809Sdn 👌
It’s difficult to train against the F-35. You can’t detect it until you are very close. By then it has the drop on you and already shoved an AMRAAM up your..
Up your AMRAAM!!!
Surely the most appropriate missile for that scenario would be the short-range equivalent?
ARSERAM
‘The RAFs F35s’. Joint asset with the RN. Flown jointly with FAA pilots off a RN carrier.
Hard to believe the Jaguars are pushing 45 years old
I just looked it up out of interest, First flown in 1968 Thats 57 years ago, built or designed as a Trainer to replace the Folland Gnat. I had various models as a lad and always liked the (American voice) Jay gwar !
Entered service in 1974, I seem to remember
I was referring to when they entered Indian service… Very interesting to hear interviews from the RAF pilots that flew them. And yes time Marches on… Rapidly
India, should based on paper stats have a very powerful air force. However, the truth is they are struggling with availability. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), have looked at their Airforce after the recent ding dong with Pakistan. Highlighting two key problems, the lack of spares and the lack of experienced maintainers, which when combined significantly affects the availability of aircraft. Which might also explain why the Indian Airforce has so many flight accidents.
Recently they have just announced they will be retiring their Mig-21s. But also their fleet of Jags, which are going through the Darin 3 modernisation program, which amongst other upgrades includes a AESA radar and ASRAAM. Proving there’s life in the old dog yet! They have yet to say if the Tejas 2 will replace the Mig-21s, but have also alluded that they might get more Rafales.
I wonde if the F-35’s had their Luneburg lens radar reflectors fitted to increase their radar signature ?
In the photos above they are fitted. I suspect they only come off in areal war scenario, maybe a covert strike but certainly not for this.
It is standard procedure for some Aircraft involved in these types of Exercises to have some Capabilities either turned off or masked. The Indian Air Force played with RAF Typhoons a few years ago, alledgedly the Radar on their Sukhoi’s were not operating at full capacity.
Of course the Indians won!
Who would not have thunk it?
Up against the cowboys we brought Indians to the fight.
Until a little nation like PAK, stuffed it to the Indians.
One of the failures of our desert campaigns was not to traduce PAK into providing troops, quelling (eliminating) their tribal areas and securing the border with Afghanistan.
Reap the harvest you sowed PAK.
Two countries that could be so great but both ridden with cultural issues that will tear both IND and PAK apart, and China just waits…
Looks like most of the comments referring to India’s performance during Op Sindoor have been shaped by shallow social media content.
Someone mentioned RUSI.
This article in RUSI details the objectives behind the operation and examines if they had been satisfactorily achieved.
I don’t think such a calibrated use of firepower has ever been displayed by any world power in the history of modern warfare.
https://share.google/zl3z4N4GCfgJ1e2F0
Undue focus on Indian planes downed and the IAFs refusal to disclose the real picture helped distort the narrative in Pakistans favour. There are 2 fall out of this limited conflict.
1 ,USA has started to view India as a threat to their influence in the region. And have not taken kindly to the downing/ destruction of their inventory.
2 India rose up the rank and overtook China as the 3rd most powerful Airforce in the world
https://www.newsweek.com/india-overtakes-china-in-world-air-force-ranking-10882624
And by using a sizable amount of homegrown technology.
This is a great achievement for India which unlike Pakistan, does not practice by unleashing our fire power on our own people.
That said. Yes.. Indian media do churn out despicable stuff.
Good to see the Jaguar in the photo , do they still use the Sea Eagle Missile ?
India stands with putin that is the only real thing to say, we should boycott all countries that deal with Russia.