Eight Su-30s and 4 Jaguars confronted six F-35Bs throughout a service protection state of affairs as a part of the HMS Prince of Wales’ participation in Train Konkan.
Indian Air Power (IAF) Su-30MKIs, Jaguar IN maritime strike plane and an Il-76 Phalcon airborne radar practiced putting the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales plane service and the Service Strike Group 25 (CSG25), whereas Britain’s Royal Air Power F-35B Lightning IIs responded to cease them as a part of Train Konkan.
The primary-of-its-kind “head-to-head” complicated maritime strike and aerial fight situations passed off on Oct. 14, 2025, and was introduced by all three providers concerned on Oct. 18. This was a particular drill two days after the present iteration of the two-decade-old Train Konkan of the Indian and the Royal Navy concluded on the western Indian seaboard.
The RAF listed a complete of twenty-two jets collaborating within the state of affairs, figuring out the composition as six F-35Bs from the 617 Squadron launched into the HMS Prince of Wales, eight Su-30MKIs, an Indian AEW&C plane (Airborne Early Warning and Management) – which has been referred to as the to the Il-78 ‘Mainstay’, referring to the Il-76 with the EL/W-2090 Phalcon radar – and 4 Jaguars.
The publish on X added the providers practiced “4 dogfights,” and “three mission sorts.” Notably, the publish incorrectly recognized the plane service because the HMS Queen Elizabeth.
⚔️ Lightning vs Flanker 🇬🇧🇮🇳#ExKonkan: 617 Sqn launched 6 F-35Bs from HMS Queen Elizabeth to face 8 Su-30MKIs, Jaguars & AWACS.
🔥 22 jets. 4 dogfights. 3 mission sorts.
First UK service conflict with Flankers testing fusion, agility & techniques. pic.twitter.com/Lb1Z3pujoL
— Royal Air Power (@RoyalAirForce) October 18, 2025
Aerial drills
Train Konkan 2025 took as place the Royal Navy’s six-month-long Service Strike Group 25 (CSG 25) deployment, designated Operation Highmast, is drawing to a detailed. The flotilla is on its return journey to the UK, after wrapping the Indo-Pacific leg of its deployment.
The RN’s launch mentioned: “Half a dozen F-35Bs acted because the service’s protect, whereas a dozen Indian quick jets – eight Su-30 ‘Flankers’ and 4 Jaguars, aided by an Il-78 ‘Mainstay’ AWACS plane – tried to penetrate the defensive display to conduct simulated strikes on the flagship in addition to her escorts.”
Within the pictures launched by each the providers, we are able to rely solely six plane, together with two every of the F-35B, Su-30MKI and the Jaguar IN, with the remainder of the planes not being captured. The RAF mentioned it was the “first UK service conflict with Flankers testing fusion, agility and techniques.”
We’ve been working seamlessly with the Indian Navy in a joint air-sea train. Demonstrating deepening ties, shared capabilities, and readiness to function. #CSG25 #ExcerciseKonkan pic.twitter.com/w9ut89mm4t
— UK Service Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 17, 2025
The Su-30MKI is the IAF’s frontline multirole/air-dominance fighter, with a much more established place than the Rafale. Round 40 Su-30s have additionally been built-in with the BrahMos-A, the air-launched model of the Indo-Russian land and ship-fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
The IAF’s Jaguar is one other important “deep penetration strike plane”, with most of the three variants, Jaguar IS, IB and the maritime strike IM receiving the DARIN III (Show Assault Ranging Inertial Navigation) upgrades. “For the air energy of each nations, the mock dogfights allowed personnel to check particular person expertise, weapons techniques and sensors, plus techniques specifically towards plane they don’t usually encounter,” the RN press launch mentioned.
The dogfight might have concerned F-35Bs on CAP (Fight Air Patrols) operating into the Su-30s. It could have launched the British pilots to the maneuvering capabilities which they might encounter flying towards the Russian and Chinese language air forces with their Su-30SM/SM2, Su-35S, J-16 and Su-33 fighters. These jets are nonetheless vastly totally different and in lots of respects superior to the Indian Sukhois with higher engines, electronics, digital warfare and radar suites.
🇮🇳🤝🇬🇧#ExKonkan2025An action-packed & professionally enriching Sea Section concluded on #08Oct 25.Taking part models exchanged conventional courtesies throughout a ceremonial steampast.Ships have proceeded to respective locations to progress the harbour part, promising… pic.twitter.com/qnLWtaamqt
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) October 10, 2025
The IAF’s AWACS talked about by the Royal Navy is a Russian-made Il-76 cargo plane carrying an Israeli EL/W-2090 AESA radar disc, often called the Phalcon AEW&C, of which India operates three plane. The Royal Navy additionally incorrectly identifies it because the Il-78 ‘Mainstay’.
The IAF press launch mentioned: “On 14 Oct 25, IAF Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW&C plane joined Royal Navy F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales for a joint train over the Indian Ocean Area. The coaching strengthened interoperability, mutual belief, and collective dedication to regional stability.”
Train Konkan 2025
The Indian Navy introduced the two-phased Konkan-25’s begin on Oct. 5, 2025, on India’s western coast, and its conclusion on Oct. 12, noting now the two-decade outdated train “grown considerably in scale and complexity, fostering enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding in maritime operations between the 2 navies.”
🇮🇳🤝🇬🇧#ExKonkan2025An action-packed & professionally enriching Sea Section concluded on #08Oct 25.Taking part models exchanged conventional courtesies throughout a ceremonial steampast.Ships have proceeded to respective locations to progress the harbour part, promising… pic.twitter.com/qnLWtaamqt
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) October 10, 2025
The primary “harbour part” included “skilled interactions, cross deck visits, sports activities fixtures, cultural engagements, Joint Working Group conferences and Topic Matter Knowledgeable Exchanges.” The second sea part included “complicated maritime operational drills” like “anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine workouts, flying operations and different seamanship evolutions.”
These had been carried out with each the navies’ frontline property, together with plane carriers INS Vikrant and the HMS Prince of Wales. An HMA1 Merlin additionally operated off the INS Vikrant, which carries a number of the MiG-29K/KUB naval fighters of the INAS 303 “Black Panthers” (Indian Naval Air Squadron 303), with the others working from the INS Vikramaditya plane service.
The Royal Navy on Oct. 8 reported the HMS Prince of Wales arriving within the south western state of Goa, and the HMS Richmond Sort 23 ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) frigate reached the western Indian metropolis of Mumbai. Mumbai is dwelling to the Western Naval Command, often known as the Indian Navy’s “Sword Arm”.
The JMSDF’s (Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power) JS Akebono destroyer and the Royal Norwegian Navy’s HNoMS Roald Amundsen frigate additionally participated on this yr’s version of the train.
Reflecting on a profitable #ExKonkan it’s nice to be alongside in India 🇬🇧🤝🇮🇳 #CSG25 #OpHighmast pic.twitter.com/HUkRj7QxtO
— UK Service Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 9, 2025
Apparently, the British F-35Bs from the HMS Prince of Wales had simply flown with Su-30s of the Royal Malaysian Air Power throughout Train Bersama Lima 2025, which wrapped up on Oct. 6, and introduced the UK Service Strike Strike Group’s subsequent cease to India “for additional defence engagement.” Bersama Lima additionally noticed the participation of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Train #BersamaLima has wrapped up! 🤝
Over two weeks, the UK joined Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand for coaching throughout sea, air and land.
The @COMUKCSG is now heading to India for additional defence engagement.#CSG25 pic.twitter.com/8Qk2T7sL04
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) October 6, 2025
The IN’s press launch then introduced the CSG 25’s deliberate “one-day” train on Oct. 14 with the Indian Air Power off the western coast of India, previous to the British flotilla “persevering with along with her deliberate deployment.” The press launch additional added “This train is a reaffirmation of the shared dedication to making sure safe, open and free seas […] consolidate strategic ties, improve interoperability and contribute to regional maritime stability.”
🇮🇳🤝🇬🇧Day 1 #ExKonkan2025 kicks off with key management engagement between RAdm Vivek Dahiya #FOCWF andCmde James Blackmore, Commander #CSG25, and pre-sail convention onboard #INSVikrant.
Taking part models joined respective forces and dispersed to assigned areas… pic.twitter.com/JmJTfVK2md
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) October 6, 2025
The plane service sailed from Britain in April for the Service Strike Group 25 (CSG25) deployment, designated Operation Highmast. The Service Air Wing aboard HMS Prince of Wales hosts 24 F-35Bs each from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Power, assigned to the 809 NAS (Naval Air Squadron) and the 617 Squadron “Dambusters”, respectively. Apparently, an F-35B from the HMS Prince of Wales’s 617 Squadron was stranded within the southern Indian state of Kerala for 37 days starting Jun. 14, owing to unhealthy climate and a hydraulic snag.
