Indian And French Navies Begin Three-Day Wargame In Arabian Sea
Apr 26, 2021
The French Navy has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and its entire carrier strike group in the exercise, reflecting the seriousness of the drill.
The Indian and French navies on Sunday kicked off a three-day mega wargame in the Arabian Sea in the backdrop of rising concern over China’s growing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region.
The French Navy has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and its entire carrier strike group in the exercise, reflecting the seriousness of the drill.
The French Embassy said the 19th edition of the Varuna exercise underscores the shared security in the Indo-Pacific and bears testimony to the vitality of the bilateral strategic partnership.
“The joint exercise comprises various drills across the spectrum ofmaritime operations, with the goal of fostering interoperability and mutual learning between the two navies and reinforcing their capability for jointaction in a strategic area,” it said in a statement.
The Indian Navy has deployed guided missile stealth destroyer Kolkata, guided missile frigates Tarkash and Talwar, fleet support ship Deepak, a Kalvari class submarine and a sleet of P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, officials said.
Besides Charles de Gaulle, the French naval assets at the exercise included multi-mission frigate Provence, air defence destroyer Chevalier Paul, and command and supply ship Var.
Courtesy: ET