the goan I network
PANAJI
The navies of India and France are holding onshore as well as off-shore joint naval exercises off the Goa coast as part of ‘Varuna 19.1’ which got underway on Wednesday.
Interestingly, the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya will participate in the Indo-French naval exercises, days after an officer Lieutenant Commander D S Chauhan died fighting a fire on board.
A statement by the Indian Navy said, the exercise is being held in two phases - the harbour phase at Goa, including cross-visits, professional interactions and sports events, and the sea phase, which comprises various exercises across the spectrum of maritime operations.
“The upcoming 17th edition includes participation of the French Navy’s aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin and FNS Provence, the frigate FNS Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear submarine,” the Navy said.
“From the Indian side, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, destroyer INS Mumbai, the Teg-class frigate, INS Tarkash, the Shishumar-class submarine, INS Shankul and the Deepak-class fleet tanker, INS Deepak, will be participating,” it added.
Part two of the exercise, ‘Varuna 19.2’, is scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti.
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