23rd edition of Indo-French Varuna Naval Exercise 2025 commences

The 23rd edition of the annual Indo-French bilateral Naval exercise Varuna commenced in the Arabian Sea on 19th March 2025. The 23rd edition of the annual Varuna maritime exercise will be held from 19 -22 March  2025.

The 22nd edition of the Varuna exercise was held in the Mediterranean Sea from 2-4 September 2024.

About Varuna Exercise 

The first India-French maritime exercise was started in 1991 to strengthen the military ties between the two countries. 

In 2001 the bilateral exercise was renamed as Varuna exercise and since then it has been held annually. 

Participants of the 23rd edition of the Varuna exercise

In the 23rd edition of the Varuna exercise the Carrier Strike Group of both the countries are participating. 

The Carrier Strike Group of the Indian Navy based around its aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is participating in the exercise. The INS Vikrant along with its fighter aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and an Indian-made Scorpene-class submarine are participating in the exercise,

France has deployed its Carrier Strike Group under the command of the French Armed Forces deployed in the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN) for the Varuna exercise. 

The Carrier Strike Group of the French Navy based around its aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle is participating in the exercise.

Aim of the Exercise 

Below are the aims of the 23rd edition of the Varuna exercise.

• To strengthen the relationship between India and France, especially in the field of defence.
• To strengthen interoperability between the Indian and French navies.
• To enhance the ability of both the Navies to deal with multi-environment threats, whether from the air, the surface, or underwater.
• To test their underwater defence capability both navies will conduct mock anti-submarine warfare.
• The Indian Navy’s MIG 29k will engage in dogfighting with the French Navy’s  Rafale-M to refine its tactical and operational capabilities.

Indo-French Military Exercise 

France was the first country with which India established a Strategic Partnership in 1998. France has emerged as a reliable defence partner of India with joint production of Scorpene class submarines , supply of Rafale fighter planes for the Indian Air Force.

Both countries also organise bilateral military exercises and participate in multinational exercises.

Bilateral Military Exercise 

Naval Exercise 

Varuna Exercise 

• First in 2001
• 23rd edition in the Arabian Sea from 19-23 March 2025
• Held annually 

Land Exercise 

Frinjex Exercise 

• First in 2023
• 1st held at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on  07th and 08th March 2023.

Exercise Shakti 

• First -2011 held in Meghalaya, India
• Held every two years alternatively in India and France.
• 7th edition held at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya from 13-26 May 2024.

Air Exercise 

Exercise Garuda 

• First- 2003 and is held alternatively in India and France.
• Held every two years alternatively in India and France.
• The 7th Garuda exercise was held at Jodhpur, Rajasthan in 2022. 

Multinational Exercise 

Exercise ORION

• Conducted by the French Air and Space Force.
• First Time Indian Air Force participated from 13 April to 07 May 2023.

Tarang Shakti 

• Largest ever multinational air exercise hosted by Indian Air Force in August -September 2024.
• The French  Air and Space Force was one of the participants in the exercise.

La Pérouse Exercice 

• It is a maritime exercise hosted by the French Navy in the Indo-Pacific in March 2023.
• India, Australia, Canada, the United States, France, Japan and the United Kingdom Navy participated in the exercise.