India-France naval exercise from June 24

As part of their bilateral naval relation aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the two navies, India and France will hold, for the first time in 7 years, an annual bilateral exercise in the French waters.

Nicknamed Varuna, the exercise will be held off the coast of Brittany from June 24 to July 4 as part of the Indian Task Force’s deployment to Europe from May to July this year.

Apart from the destroyer INS Delhi, two frigates, Brahmaputra and Beas, replenishment ship Aditya and integral helicopters will also participate in the exercise.

The French contribution will consist of assets placed under CECLANT’s command (the Admiral Commanding Atlantic Ocean Zone), notably the destroyer Primauguet with a helicopter, the frigate Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Hanaff, the nuclear-powered attack submarine Emeraude.