Varuna exercise

According to information published by the Indian government on March 31, 2022, the 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between Indian and French Navies – "VARUNA" is being conducted in the Arabian Sea from 30 Mar – 03 Apr 22. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link French Aircraft Carrier Charles-de-Gaulle and Indian Kalvari class submarine (Picture source: Indian Navy) The Bilateral Naval Exercises between the two Navies were initiated in 1993. The exercise was christened ‘VARUNA’ in 2001 and has become a vital part of India – France strategic bilateral relationship. Various units including ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft, and helicopters of the two navies are participating in the exercise. These units will endeavor to enhance and hone their operational skills in maritime theatre, augment inter-operability to undertake maritime security operations, and demonstrate their commitment to promote peace, security, and stability in the region as an integrated force. Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, the VARUNA series of exercises continue to provide both the navies opportunities to learn from each other’s best practices. The exercise has been a principal driver for operational-level interactions between the two navies and has underscored the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety, and freedom of the global maritime commons. The Indian Navy’s participation in 2021 the exercise included guided-mis...

Contents • • Key Points • The bilateral exercise, which was initiated in 1993, was named ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and has become a defining feature of the India-France strategic bilateral relationship. • This edition of the exercise will see the participation of the Indian Navy’s indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters, and MiG29K fighter aircraft. • The French Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, frigates FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne, and maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique. Importance of the Exercise • The exercise will take place over five days, from January 16th to 20th, 2023, and will involve advanced air defense exercises, tactical maneuvers, surface firings, underway replenishment, and other maritime operations. • Exercise Varuna plays a critical role in strengthening the strategic partnership between India and France, and in enhancing the interoperability and understanding between the two navies. It also serves as an opportunity for both countries to demonstrate their commitment to regional peace, security, and stability. • The exercise also enables the Indian Navy to learn from the French Navy’s advanced capabilities and technologies and to improve its own maritime capabilities.

The Indian Navy stated in a statement that the 21st edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France began on the western seaboard on Monday. Delhi: 21st Edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France, 'Exercise Varuna', commenced on the Western Seaboard today. Exercise will be conducted over five days from 16th to 20th January. (File Pics) The exercise, which began in 1993 and was renamed 'Varuna' in 2001, has become "a hallmark of India-France strategic bilateral cooperation," according to the statement. The indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integrated helicopters, and MiG29K fighter aircraft will take part in this edition of the drill, according to a statement. According to the statement, the French Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, the frigates FS Forbin and Provence, the support vessel FS Marne, and the maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique. The exercise will last five days, from January 16 to 20, and will include advanced air defence drills, tactical manoeuvres, surface firings, underway replenishment, and other marine activities, according to the statement. "Units of both navies will endeavour to hone their war-fighting skills in maritime theatre, enhance their interoperability to undertake multi-discipline operations in the maritime domain and demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote p...

During the exercise, the units of both the navies will work to sharpen their operational skills in the maritime theatre, bolster their inter-operability to carry out maritime security operations and show their commitment as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the region. This annual naval exercise between the two navies began in 1993. It was named as ‘Varuna’ in 2001. The Varuna series of exercises have expanded in scope and complexity over the years, and offer opportunities to the two navies to learn from each other’s best practices. The Indian Ministry of Defence stated: “The exercise has been a principal driver for operational level interactions between the two navies and has underscored the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.” The maritime exercise plays an important role in establishing strategic relationship between India and France. Varuna has also driven various operational level discussions between both the navies. This exercise comes close on the heels of the first edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) The five-day IMEX-22 was conducted off Goa’s coast and had seen participation from 15 countries including France, out of the total 25 IONS members.

French Indian Naval Exercise VARUNA 2021 Concludes From April 25 to 27, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and Indian Navy conducted “Varuna 2021” joint naval exercise in the western Arabian Sea region of the Indian Ocean. This 19th edition involved the participation of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its entire carrier strike group (CSG). 28 Apr 2021 The French Navy participation included the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its carrier air wing (Rafale Marine fighter jets, E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft, NH90NFH Caïman and Dauphin naval helicopters), the Provence FREMM frigate, Chevalier Paul air defense frigate, and Var command and supply ship. The exercise witnessed high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations including cross deck helicopter landings, tactical manoeuvres, surface and anti-air weapon firings, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations. Units of both navies honed and enhanced their war-fighting skills to demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain […] The seamless coordination, precise execution of manoeuvres, and accuracy in complex exercises characterized the conduct of Varuna-2021 and has helped further strengthen mutual confidence, inter-operability and sharing of best practices between both Navies. Indian MoD statement Initiated in 1983, the...

New Delhi [India], January 17 (ANI): Indian Navy and French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group kicked off their large-scale operational cooperation ‘Varuna’ from Goa, according to the statement released by French Embassy, according to the statement released by France Embassy. According to the official statement, the French Carrier Strike Group, comprising the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, is deployed in the Indian Ocean under the ANTARES mission. ‘Varuna’ kicked off from the Goa coast. The exercise, to be conducted over five days from January 16 to January 20, exemplifies the outstanding Indo-French naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. It also opens in the year 2023 marked by the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French strategic partnership. “The French Navy ships participating in the drill include the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its embarked air group, several Indian and French frigates and their embarked helicopters, and a French command and replenishment ship will carry out numerous training sessions of increasing intensity,” the statement read. The statement further added, “The aim of the VARUNA joint exercise is to prepare the crews of these two Indian Ocean nations to face a variety of challenges together, mobilising their anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft assets, as well as shared control of the air-sea environment and ship control. Replenishment at sea, increasingly complex air combat manoeuvres, and ...