Varuna (naval exercise)

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frigate INS Gomati (F21)
.

The Varuna naval exercise is an annually held bilateral Naval exercise between

Overseas region of Réunion, Mayotte and Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
.

Editions

2001

The First edition was conducted in 2001.[3]

2015

Varuna 2015 included a French battle-group led by

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) and carrying aero-naval version of Rafale aircraft operating alongside the Western Naval Command.[4]

2019

The 2019 edition show the participation of

INS Deepak
.

2023

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.

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91), frigates FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne and an Bregut Atlantique Maritime Patrol Aircraft.[2]

2024

The 2024 edition of Varuna exercise is scheduled from 2 to 4 September 2024 in the Mediterranean Sea. The Indian Navy participates in the exercise with INS Tabar and Boeing P-8I Neptune aircraft. The exercise depicts the first European deployment of the P-8I aircraft after it landed at Hyères airbase. This is 63 years after an Alize aircraft deployed on INS Vikrant last operated from France from the same airbase.[6][7][8]

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.[9]

2025

The 23rd edition of the exercise was conducted between 19 and 22 March 2025. The aircraft carriers

MiG-29K.[10]

During the deployment, INS Vikrant and

MEDEVAC operation from MV Heilan Star on early 21 March after receiving information from Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Mumbai. A Seaking helicopter from Vikrant rescued three crew members, who suffered severe burn injuries, from the ship, flown to INS Hansa in Goa and transferred to a civil hospital for further medical care.[11]

As for the anti submarine manual the Indian submarine played as the aggressor while Indian and French anti-submarine frigates were deployed to protect a high-value target, Jacques Chevallier, the French Navy oiler.[12]

Other operations also included

replenishment at sea by fleet tankers of both the Navies, INS Deepak and Jacques Chevallier.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "France, India begin 'Varuna' naval exercise off Goa coast". The Economic Times. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "21st EDITION OF INDIA FRANCE BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE 'VARUNA' – 2023". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. ^ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2112430
  4. ^ "Indo-French Naval Exercise Varuna 2015 concludes". SP's MAI. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Exercise Varuna 2023". French Embassy in New Delhi. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  6. ^ IANS (2 September 2024). "Indian Navy's P-8I lands in France for 'Varuna', marking its first ever deployment in Europe". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Indian Navy's P-8I Aircraft Marks First-Ever Deployment In Europe, Lands In France For Bilateral Exercise". News18. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  9. ^ "INDIA - FRANCE BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE VARUNA". Press Information Bureau. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ "INDIAN AND FRENCH NAVIES SET FOR THE 23rd EDITION OF BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE - VARUNA 2025". Press Information Bureau. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  11. ^ "INDIAN NAVY AND COAST GUARD CARRY OUT DARING MEDEVAC OPERATION OUT AT SEA". Press Information Bureau. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  12. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  13. ^ "CULMINATION OF BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE - VARUNA 2025". Press Information Bureau. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  14. ISSN 0013-0389
    . Retrieved 25 March 2025.
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