India, France Joint Navy exercise to begin on Monday
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 25, IRNA
India-France-Navy
The eighth India-France Joint Navy exercise codenamed "Varuna-2006" is to start on March 27 off the west coast of Mumbai, capital city of Maharashtra.
In the 12-day (March 27-April 7) exercises, the Indian Navy will be fielding its aircraft carrier Viraat along with its air group -- the guided-missile destroyer Mumbai, the guided-missile frigates Gomati and Betwa, the fleet-replenishment tanker Aditya and the submarine Shankul.
The Indian Air Force will also participate in the navy exercises and will field the Jaguar and Canberra aircraft.
The participating Indian units will be under the tactical command of FOCWF (Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet) Rear Admiral Anup Singh. His counterpart from the French Navy will be Rear Admiral Xavier Magne.
The French carrier's taskforce for the exercises would include the guided-missile destroyers Cassard and Montcala,
fleet-replenishment tanker Somme, nuclear-powered submarine Saphir and naval surveillance aircraft Altantique-II.
One of the major thrust areas during the exercises would be the `DACT' (Dissimilar Air Combat) between the Indian Navy's Sea Harrier aircraft ex-Viraat and the Rafale and Super Etendards of the Charles de Gaulle.
The Varuna series of joint exercises between the Indian and the French Navies commenced in 2001 and has grown in scope and complexity over the years.
The last such exercise was held in November 2005 off Djibouti (in the Gulf of Aden).
"Varuna-2006" is a significant indicator of the continuing and growing cooperation between India and France.
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