Unusual sources... one from a newspaper in Kerala, the other from a
Pakistani website (which has its own view on the subject). FN
NewKerala.com
News > India, France to stage major naval war games
New Delhi, Apr 5 (IANS) :
India and France will Tuesday begin a major naval exercise in the waters off
the Goa coast that will feature a French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
and a nuclear submarine, officials here said Monday.
"Varuna 2004", the largest in a series of war games begun by the navies of
the two countries in 1998, will see the two forces exercising for air combat
and anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, defence sources here said.
The French Navy is sending a huge task force of six warships, including the
powerful 40,000-tonne nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and
the nuclear attack submarine Amethyste.
Significantly, the Royal Navy destroyer Gloucester, which is currently under
French command, will also take part in the exercise that will end on April
15.
The Indian Navy will field six warships, including INS Mumbai and INS Delhi,
two of the largest indigenously built vessels and a submarine, as well as
several helicopters and aircraft.
A French embassy spokesperson said the war game would be unique because of
the large number of aircraft and warships involved. "The vessels will be
alternately placed under French and Indian command," the spokesperson noted.
Once the French fleet moves into Indian waters from the Persian Gulf, it
will be met by the Indian warships that will "confront or combine forces in
a wide range of naval war games".
Indian Navy officials are particularly keen on learning more about the
operation of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which can carry 40
aircraft, including jets for land strikes and the Hawkeye E-2C early warning
aircraft.
"It will interesting to watch the operations of the French task force as we
can learn a lot about using naval power to influence land battles," said an
Indian Navy officer.
The two navies will also exchange officers from their ships and Indian
aircraft are expected to land on the French carrier, said sources.
"Far from being individual demonstrations of know-how, the exercise will
bring the two navies in a full-fledged display of combat," said the French
spokesperson.
The exercise will be witnessed by French ambassador Dominique Girard and
Vice Admiral Rolin, commander of the French Maritime Zone in the Indian
Ocean.
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HiPakistan * April 06 2004
Big India-France naval exercise begins today
NEW DELHI, April 5: India and France are to begin their biggest ever
aero-naval exercise in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, it was officially
announced on Monday. The 10-day war-games will conclude a series of
Indo-French naval exercises which have been on since in 1998. Code-named
Varuna 2004, the exercise will begin with the French fleet moving out of the
Gulf, to be met by the Indian fleet.
"The French and Indian navies will confront or combine forces in a wide
range of naval war-games up to Goa till 15th April," the French embassy said
in a statement. The fact that the French embassy and not the Indian
government announced the war-games could be significant.
Diplomatic sources say India's plan to sign the $2 billion deal to construct
at least six French "Scorpene" submarines may have run into trouble due to
the coming general election.
After Russia and Israel, France is the largest arms supplier to India, with
ventures in different fields ranging from upgrading of radars to
modernization of military helicopters. France also wants to sell its
advanced Mirage-2000-V fighter jets to India and has promised technology
transfer along with the deal.
India already has around 40 Mirage-2000 fly-by-wire jets, which constitute
two squadrons, with another 10 jets as "reserves." The Mirage-2000-V being
offered is the latest version with much superior avionics and radars.
The long-term plan of Indian Air Force is believed to be for six more
Mirage-2000 squadrons. Varuna 2004 will be unique by the number of aircraft
and vessels involved by both nations. An equal number of vessels - six each
- will participate and will be placed alternately under French and Indian
command.
A huge aero-naval group will represent the French task force. The 40,000-ton
nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, which can carry up to
40 aircraft and is equipped with the anti-missile system Aster, will be
fitted with anti-air mission Rafale aircraft, Super Etendard aircraft for
land strikes, early warning aircraft Hawkeye E-2C, helicopters Puma and
Dauphin. The French fleet will also include a destroyer for anti-submarine
warfare - Montcalm.
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