Largest Indo-French Naval Exercise Yet .... Exercise Varuna 2011, starting tomorrow in the Arabian Sea off Goa, is a major part of the French Navy's Agapanthe 2010 deployment. This bilateral exercise will involve nine ships, including two aircraft carriers: INS Viraat (with Sea Harriers and Seaking) and FS Charles De Gaulle (strike group composed of E2C, Rafale and SEM).
The 7 other units are the following: Indian frigates INS Godavari and INS Ganga, Class-209 submarine INS Shalki, French destroyers FS Forbin and FS Tourville, fleet tanker FS Meuse and nuclear submarine FS Améthyste. Shorebased maritime patrol aircraft will also participate in the exercise. Exercise Varuna will start with a harbour phase in Mormugao (7-10 January), followed by a phase at sea (11-14 January). The phase off Goa includes air operations, submarine exercises, surface exercises as well as replenishment at sea. http://defenceforumindia.com/showthread.php?t=17807&p=219047 * * * Indo-French Naval Exercises Set To Start By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI Published: 6 Jan 2011 10:39 NEW DELHI - Joint naval exercises to be held Jan. 7-14 in the Arabian Sea by India and France will include the first participation by France's carrier strike group. The French forces in the exercises, code named Varuna 10, will include the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, destroyers FNS Forbin and FNS Tourville, supply ship FNS Meuse and nuclear-powered submarine FNS Amethyste. The De Gaulle will carry Rafale and Super Etendard fighters, E2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft and helicopters. The Indian Navy will be represented by its lone aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, two homemade frigates, INS Godavari and INS Ganga, and one Shishumar-class submarine, the INS Shalki. The harbor phase of the exercise is scheduled from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11, and the sea phase will be conducted in the Arabian Sea from Jan. 11 to Jan. 14. "The scope of Exercise VARUNA 10 includes the entire gamut of maritime operations, ranging from aircraft carrier operations, anti-submarine warfare operations and maritime interdiction operations exercises," the official release of the Indian Defence Ministry says. Indian and French navies began in 2001 holding annual joint naval exercises called Varuna. "Due to increasing piracy and maritime terrorism, navies of several countries have been cooperating with each other to strengthen maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. Naval cooperation between India and the France epitomizes this and is in the long-term interests of both countries," the Defence Ministry release says. * * *