Goa coast to host eighth Indo-French naval exercises from March 27 New Delhi: The eighth bilateral exercise of the generic series code named 'Varuna' will take place off the western Indian coast March 27 to April 7.=20 Informed Defence Ministry sources said that five Indian Navy surface combatants, one submarine, and a number of different types of shore-based fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft would be participating in the exercise.=20
The participating Indian units will be under the tactical command of the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Anup Singh. His counterpart from the French Navy, will be Rear Admiral Xavier Magne.=20 The Indian Navy will be fielding the aircraft carrier Viraat along with her air-group, the guided-missile destroyer Mumbai, the guided-missile frigates Gomati and Betwa, the fleet-replenishment tanker Aditya, and, the submarine Shankul.=20 The Indian Air Force will also participate in 'Varuna-2006' and will field Jaguar And Canberra aircraft.=20 The French task force comprises their nuclear-propelled aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (with her own air group), the guided-missile destroyers Cassard and Montcalm, the fleet-replenishment tanker Somme, the nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) Saphir, and, French 'Atlantique-II' Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs) that will operate ex-Goa. In conformance with modern practice, the French task force has one Royal Navy frigate, HMS Lancaster, embedded within it.=20 One of the major thrust-areas would be '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.=20 Other aspects that would be exercised by the two navies include fleet air-defence, intermediate and advanced ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), MIO (Maritime Interdiction Operations), VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) procedures and tactical manoeuvres.=20 Some of the 'firsts' of this exercise include the co-ordinated operation of the Indian and French aircraft carriers (Viraat and Charles de Gaulle), firing on aerial targets, cross-deck operations by the Indian Navy's Sea Harrier aircraft from the deck of the Charles de Gaulle, and, participation by the Indian Air Force.=20 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. These exercises have been hugely successful in facilitating mutual learning and interoperability between the two navies. The last such exercise was held in November 2005 off Djibouti (in the Gulf Of Aden). http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=3Dfullnews&id=3D30943 ~(^^)~ Avelino
