INS Trikand Makes Port Call at Devonport, United Kingdom Towards bolstering the robust ties between the United Kingdom and India, a frontline warship of the Indian Navy, INS Trikand will make port calls at Devonport, Portsmouth and London between 05 to18 Sep 15. The visiting ship, as part of an overseas deployment (OSD), has entered the port of Devonport (UK) today with an objective of taking part in the annual bilateral exercise between the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy, termed as KONKAN series of exercises. Whilst at London, the ship would represent India at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, being held from 14 Sep to 18 Sep 15. The last port of call of the ship was Valencia (Spain) where she spent three days. The KONKAN series began in 2004 and the previous exercise, KONKAN 2013, was conducted off Goa. KONKAN 2015 is the 10th edition and will be conducted from 05 - 11 Sep 15, hosted by RN, in two phases. Periodic conduct of this exercise has helped to build on past achievements to further advance professional as well as operational engagements between the two navies. The professional and cultural bonds developed through such interactions strengthens the established mechanisms of maritime cooperation between IN and RN while pursuing common goals of keeping the seas around us safe and secure. India and the United Kingdom have upgraded their bilateral relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership in September 2004. Since then, the two sides have had a number of high level bilateral visits and interactions resulting in a rapid growth in relations across a broad spectrum. Active defence cooperation at the Services level has been a hallmark of the growing ties between both the countries. INS Trikand, commanded by Captain Vinay Kalia, is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all the three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface. The visiting ship is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet and is under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, with its Headquarters at Mumbai. DKS/CKP
