Operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) RAF 617 Squadron F-35Bs participated alongside Indian Air Force Su-30s and Jaguars, plus Indian Navy MiG-29Ks during exercise Konhan Shakti 21.

Spanning over four days in the Arabian Sea and concluding on October 27, Konhan Shakti 21 is the first bilateral tri-service exercise as a result of both India and the UK announcing the India-UK roadmap 2030 in May this year. The two nations worked in cohesion through multiple combat scenarios in all domains of maritime aviation operations.

Air to air, air-to-surface, and air-to-sub-surface training missions were carried out throughout the exercise. Konhan Shakti 21 provided both the UK and Indian defence with the opportunity to strengthen interoperability between the two nations in operational combat scenarios of a vast diversity.