INS Trishul Arrives at Toulon, France, for the 24th Edition of Exercise Varuna

The Indian Navy's guided missile frigate INS Trishul reached the Toulon naval base in France on 22 September 2026. It will take part in the 24th edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy.

What Is the India-France Bilateral Maritime Exercise 'Varuna'?

Varuna is a naval exercise between India and France. The series started in 1983 and was named "Varuna" in 2001. It is part of the two countries' defence cooperation at sea. Both navies also hold regular exercises in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean region.

24th Edition of India-France Bilateral Maritime Exercise 'Varuna' Features

The exercise has a harbour phase and a sea phase. It includes:

1. Cross-deck visits, where crews visit each other's ships
2. Operational interactions
3. Sporting events
4. Professional exchanges on naval procedures, seamanship and coordination at sea

Drills between the two navies also cover communication, tactical manoeuvres and interoperability training. This edition is based at Toulon, a major French naval base on the Mediterranean coast.

INS Trishul Upgradation

INS Trishul (pennant number F43) is a guided missile frigate. In recent years, it has been modernised, and its older Russian systems have been replaced. The new systems include:

1. A BrahMos-capable UVLM
2. An Atlas Elektronik ACTAS stern-mounted sonar
3. A new anti-torpedo decoy system

These help the ship in anti-surface warfare, underwater surveillance, and defence against torpedoes.

How Can Bilateral Maritime Exercise 'Varuna' Be Beneficial for India and France?

Both navies get a chance to share experiences and best practices. Working together at sea improves interoperability, which means their ships and crews can operate smoothly as a team. Time spent together in harbour and at sea also builds mutual understanding. The exercise shows the strong and lasting maritime partnership between the two nations and the growing range of their cooperation.