India, France conduct sea phase of bilateral naval exercise Varuna 2022 in Arabian sea
India Today
The sea phase of India and France's bilateral naval exercise Varuna 2022 took place in the Arabian Sea on Sunday.
The sea phase of the Indo-France bilateral naval exercise, Varuna 2022, was conducted in the Arabian sea, off the coast of Goa, on Sunday.
According to an official statement, the first phase of the exercise, which was planned in two phases, will conclude on Sunday, with the second phase taking place in May 2022.
This year's exercise has a broader scope, with surface gun firings on practice targets, advanced anti-submarine and air defence exercises, and other tactical manoeuvres covering a wide range of maritime operations.
The exercise, which has grown in content and complexity since its inception in 1993, allows the two navies to learn from each other's best practices. It focuses on operational level interaction between them in order to improve mutual cooperation at sea, highlighting their shared commitment to regional security.
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During the current phase, the Indian Navy is represented by an indigenously built stealth destroyer, INS Chennai, with integral Sea King Mk 42B helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Dornier, and the MiG 29 fighter aircraft.
The French Navy is represented by the La Fayette class frigate, FS Courbet, and the submarine support vessel, FS Loire.
