Varuna (naval exercise)

The joint-exercises are held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea with the aim of improving Indo-French coordination on capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare and information sharing.

The 2023 edition of Varuna exercise, which also saw the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership, was held between 16 and 20 January 2023 along the Goa coast.

This is 63 years after an Alize aircraft deployed on INS Vikrant last operated from France from the same airbase.

[5][6][7] The Indian Navy was represented by INS Tabar, a shipborne helicopter and LRMRAl P-8I aircraft.

The French Navy was represented by FS Provence, Submarine Suffren, Aircraft F20; 1 Bréguet 1150 Atlantic, 1 Aermacchi MB-339 and 1 NHIndustries NH90; 1 Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin.

VARUNA–15. French Navy destroyer Jean de Vienne during the exercise with Indian Navy destroyer INS Mumbai and frigate INS Gomati (F21) .