21st India France Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘Varuna’ – 2023

Aditi

2 years ago

The Phase II of the 21st edition of the Varuna bilateral exercise, known as Varuna-23, took place in the Arabian Sea. This naval exercise is a significant engagement between the Indian Navy and the French Navy, aimed at enhancing cooperation, interoperability, and mutual understanding between the two naval forces.

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India & France Bilateral Naval Exercise

The bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy, known as Varuna, has a rich history. It was initiated in 1993 and was officially named ‘Varuna’ in 2001. Over the years, this exercise has evolved into a cornerstone of the strong strategic bilateral relationship between India and France. Its scope and complexity have expanded, offering a valuable platform for both navies to exchange and learn from each other’s best practices and procedures.

Varuna serves as an essential avenue for operational-level interactions between the two Navies. This interaction is instrumental in fostering mutual cooperation to maintain good order at sea, emphasizing their shared commitment to ensuring the security, safety, and freedom of the global maritime commons. The exercise continues to strengthen the maritime partnership between India and France and contributes to regional and global maritime security.

Ex Varuna 2023

The Varuna-23 exercise saw active participation from both sides, involving guided missile frigates, a tanker, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and integral helicopters from the Indian and French Navies. This comprehensive exercise spanned three days and featured a range of joint operations, including underway replenishment and tactical maneuvers.

The primary objective of the exercise was to enhance and refine the warfighting capabilities of both naval forces while emphasizing the importance of interoperability. It demonstrated their collective ability to contribute to peace, security, and stability in the region. The exercise’s first phase, ‘Varuna-2023,’ took place off India’s Western Seaboard from January 16 to 20, 2023, setting the stage for this bilateral engagement in the Arabian Sea.

The Varuna-23 exercise features an impressive lineup of naval assets from both the Indian and French Navies, highlighting its significance and scope:

From the Indian Navy:

Indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai
Guided missile frigate INS Teg
Maritime patrol aircraft P-8I
Dornier aircraft
Integral helicopters
MiG29K fighter aircraft

From the French Navy:

Aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle
Frigates FS Forbin and Provence
Support vessel FS Marne
Maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique

Significance

As the exercise has evolved over the years, it provides an invaluable opportunity for both navies to exchange and learn from each other’s best practices. It fosters operational-level interaction, enhancing mutual cooperation for maintaining good order at sea. This underscores the shared commitment of India and France to the security, safety, and freedom of the global maritime commons, strengthening their maritime partnership and regional security efforts.

Aditi

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