NEW DELHI : India and France on Wednesday will kick off their `Varuna’ naval exercise in the Arabian Sea, with aircraft carriers, other warships, submarines, fighters and helicopters taking part in intensive combat drills.
India has deployed its indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant among other warships and a Kalvari-class submarine for the exercise from March 19 to 22, while France has fielded its carrier strike group (CSG) led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.
The exercise comes ahead of India getting set to ink two mega deals with France for direct acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighters as well as the construction of three additional Scorpene submarines by Mazagon Docks, collectively worth around Euro 10.6 billion (almost Rs 1 lakh crore), which will further boost the bilateral expansive strategic partnership.
The two countries are also discussing a possible collaboration between French major Safran, which already makes helicopter engines in India, and DRDO to co-develop the 110 Kilonewton jet engine for the Indian fifth-generation stealth fighter project called AMCA (advanced medium combat aircraft).
“The Varuna series of exercises, since inception in 2001, has evolved into a cornerstone of cooperation, showcasing the commitment of the two nations to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy,” Navy spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal said.
This year’s edition will witness an array of maritime exercises and complex manoeuvres across the sub-surface, surface, and air domains. “The joint participation of the aircraft carriers Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle, alongside their fighter aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and an Indian Scorpene-class (Kalvari) submarine, highlights the collaborative strength of the two navies,” he added.
The exercise will also feature advanced air defence drills and fighter exercises, including mock air-to-air combat between the French Rafale-Marine fighters and Indian MiG-29K jets, designed to refine tactical and operational capabilities.
Anti-submarine warfare drills will provide rigorous training in underwater domain awareness, while surface warfare operations will demonstrate synchronised manoeuvres and engagements by the Indian and French fleets, Capt Madhwal said.
Maritime patrol aircraft will enhance situational awareness, and replenishment-at-sea exercises will fortify logistical cooperation. “This collaboration underscores the shared vision of safeguarding a free, open, and secure maritime environment as well as the ability to jointly operate seamlessly in even the most complex maritime scenarios,” he added.
