New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft touched down at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe, to participate in the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy.
Scheduled from Sep 2 to 4 in the Mediterranean Sea, the 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ will include advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability between the two navies, a spokesperson of the Indian Navy said in a statement.
This deployment comes 63 years after the Indian Navy’s Alize aircraft, operating from the erstwhile INS Vikrant, last flew at Hyeres Airbase. INS Tabar, which had earlier arrived in Toulon will also be participating in the exercise.
Initiated in 1993, the Indian and French Navy bilateral naval exercise was later christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and has since become a hallmark of the robust India-France strategic bilateral relationship, according to the Ministry of Defence’s earlier press release. Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, this exercise provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and procedures, the Ministry of Defence release said.
The exercise also facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation for good order at sea, underscoring the shared commitment to ensuring security, safety, and freedom of the global maritime commons.
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