INDO-FRENCH
Indo-French naval exercises from Monday
NEW DELHI, MAR 24 (PTI)
French multi-mission Rafale and Super Etendards naval fighters will lock swords with Indian Navy’s Sea Harriers and Air Force’s Jaguar maritime fighters in the Indo-French naval exercises off the west coast from Monday.
The ten-day exercises codenamed ‘Varuna-7’ would also involve the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and India’s INS Viraat.
The French carrier’s task force for the exercises would include guided-missile destroyers Cassard and Montcalm, fleet-replenishment tanker Somme, nuclear-powered submarine Saphir and naval surveillance aircraft Altantique-II.
Besides, Viraat, the Indian task force would comprise guided-missile destroyers Mumbai and Gomti, tanker Aditya and Submarine Shankul.
“The advanced exercises, the seventh of the series, would involve dissimilar air combat, fleet air defence, intermediate and advanced anti-submarine warfare and maritime inderdiction operations”, according to a Naval spokesman here.
During the exercises, the Navy’s Sea Harriers would operate sorties from the French carrier.
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