'Varuna': India, France Naval excercise gets underway

 | Updated: Mar 19, 2018, 01:54 PM IST
The Indian Navy and the French Navy have conducted bilateral maritime exercises since May 1993.

India-France Naval excercise

India and France maritime exercise 'Varuna' began today in the three seas - the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and South Western Indian Ocean.
(Photograph:WION)

India-France Naval excercise

The Indian Navy and the French Navy have conducted bilateral maritime exercises since May 1993.

Since 2001, the exercises have been named 'Varuna' and there have been fifteen editions of the same till date. The last edition of Varuna was conducted off the French Coast in April 2017.

The conduct of Varuna, and the special impetus on taking this Navy-to-Navy cooperative engagement forward, was reiterated in the joint statement made by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France, on March 10th.
(Photograph:WION)

Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft

The Indian Naval participation will include the destroyer Mumbai, frigate Trikand with their integral helicopters, IN submarine Kalvari, P8-I and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as the Mig 29K fighter aircraft.
(Photograph:WION)

Varuna series

The Varuna series of exercises have grown in scope and complexity over the years and provide an opportunity to both Navies to increase interoperability and learn from each other's best practices.
(Photograph:WION)