An F-35B fifth-generation fighter aircraft took off from the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai on Thursday as India and UK conduct a joint military exercise. 

The warship is in India for a joint exercise with the Indian forces.

“This exercise is hugely important for relations with India. It’s not just about defence, but also about trade, commerce science and technology…,” said Commodore Steve Moorehouse (British Navy).

The two countries also discussed the British side’s offer to supply advanced electrical propulsion systems for warships at a meeting earlier today. Almost 10 per cent of the UK carrier strike group’s global deployment has been devoted to interactions and exercises with the Indian Navy.

The two sides will conduct the Konkan Shakti exercise, the first wargame involving all three services of both countries during October 25-27. These drills are part of the shared interest of the two countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by its largest warship HMS Queen Elizabeth had sailed into the Bay of Bengal on Friday for the second such voyage in the last three months, in a powerful demonstration of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

The British High Commission in India had stated that the CSG will take part in the “most demanding exercise” ever between the UK and India, incorporating elements from all three military services.

“The deployment is a powerful demonstration of the UK’s commitment to deepening its diplomatic, economic and security-based ties in the Indo-Pacific region. India is essential in ensuring a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” the High Commission had said in a statement.