Largest Indo-French Naval Exercise Yet From Tomorrow

[SpArK]

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Largest Indo-French Naval Exercise Yet From Tomorrow

Exercise Varuna 2011, starting tomorrow in the Arabian Sea off Goa, is a major part of the French Navy's Agapanthe 2010 deployment. This bilateral exercise will involve nine ships, including two aircraft carriers: INS Viraat (with Sea Harriers and Seaking) and FS Charles De Gaulle (strike group composed of E2C, Rafale and SEM).

The 7 other units are the following: Indian frigates INS Godavari and INS Ganga, Class-209 submarine INS Shalki, French destroyers FS Forbin and FS Tourville, fleet tanker FS Meuse and nuclear submarine FS Améthyste. Shorebased maritime patrol aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

Exercise Varuna will start with a harbour phase in Mormugao (7-10 January), followed by a phase at sea (11-14 January). The phase off Goa includes air operations, submarine exercises, surface exercises as well as replenishment at sea.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/01...rcise-yet.html

[SpArK]

FNS Charles de Gaulle Comes To India For The First Time!!

VARUNA 10' the bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy is scheduled to commence from 07 Jan 11 with aircraft carriers, destroyers/frigates, tankers and submarines from both sides participating.

For VARUNA 10, the French Navy will be represented by ships from the French Carrier Strike Group, designated Task Force 473 and mainly based at Toulon, France. The Task Force includes the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, destroyers FNS Forbin and FNS Tourville, supply ship FNS Meuse and nuclear powered submarine FNS Amethyste. Aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle will be carrying its complement of fighter aircraft, Rafale and Super Etendard, airborne early warning aircraft E2C Hawkeye and integral helicopters.

The Indian Navy will be represented by aircraft carrier INS Viraat, two indigenous frigates INS Godavari and INS Ganga and one Shishumar class submarine, INS Shalki. Sea Harrier fighters, fixed and rotary wing aircraft are also scheduled to participate in the bilateral exercise. The harbour phase is scheduled from 07 to 10 Jan 11 and the sea phase will be conducted in the Arabian Sea from 11 to 14 Jan 11. The scope of VARUNA 10 includes the entire gamut of maritime operations ranging from Aircraft Carrier Operations, Anti-Submarine Warfare operations and Maritime Interdiction Operations exercises.

Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting bilateral naval exercises since May 1993. However, it was from 2001 that the IN-FN bilateral exercises have been called "VARUNA”. Till date, eleven such exercises have been conducted. The last exercise VARUNA 09 was conducted off Brest in France from 27 Jun to 04 Jul 09, to coincide with the overseas deployment of IN ships to the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Regular IN -FN interaction over the years has allowed both sides to gradually and systematically increase the complexity and professional content of the bilateral exercise. VARUNA aims at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies. The understanding and confidence gained through such exercises has helped develop SOPs, particularly for cooperation in Anti Piracy Operations and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. This exercise will further strengthen the IN-FN cooperation and coordination.

India with its long-coastline, and significant maritime capability sits astride, the sea lanes of Indian Ocean Region through which most of the worlds energy carriers transit. Due to increasing piracy and maritime terrorism, navies of several countries have been co-operating with each other to strengthen maritime security in the lOR. Naval cooperation between India and the France epitomises this and is in the long term interests of both countries. Both navies have, over the years, undertaken bilateral activities such as exercises at sea, training visits and courses, information exchange, and technical cooperation. The navies have significant convergence of interests, especially in maritime security in this region.

DPR


Chindits: FNS Charles de Gaulle Comes To India For The First Time!!

[SpArK]

French carrier in India for joint naval drill

2011-01-06 17:50:00

New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) The French Navy's nuclear-propelled aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will participate in a week-long joint exercise with the Indian Navy off Goa from Friday that will see the navy fielding aircraft carrier INS Viraat along with destroyers and a submarine.

The bilateral exercise - Varuna 10 - will see destroyers, frigates, tankers and submarines from both sides participating, a navy spokesperson said.

The French Navy will be represented by ships from the French Carrier Strike Group, designated Task Force 473 and mainly based at Toulon, France.

The Task Force includes the 38,000-tonne aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, destroyers FNS Forbin and FNS Tourville, supply ship FNS Meuse and nuclear powered submarine FNS Amethyste.

'Aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle will be carrying its complement of fighter aircraft, Rafale and Super Etendard, airborne early warning aircraft E2C Hawkeye and integral helicopters,' the spokesperson said.

This will be the second time that Charles de Gaulle -- the flagship of the French Navy and the first and only nuclear-powered carrier built outside of the US Navy -- will be participating in an exercise with the Indian Navy. The warship was in India last in 2006.

Besides aircraft carrier INS Viraat, the Indian Navy will be represented by two indigenous frigates INS Godavari and INS Ganga and Shishumar class submarine INS Shalki.

Sea Harrier fighters, fixed and rotary wing aircraft are also scheduled to participate in the exercise.

The harbour phase is scheduled from Jan 7 to 10 and the sea phase will be conducted in the Arabian sea from Jan 11 to 14.

The scope of Varuna includes the entire gamut of maritime operations ranging from aircraft carrier operations, anti-submarine warfare operations and maritime interdiction operations exercises.

The Indian and the French navies have been conducting bilateral naval exercises since May 1993.

However, it was from 2001 that bilateral exercise was been called 'Varuna'.

Till date, eleven such exercises have been conducted. The last exercise was conducted off Brest in France June 27-July 4 last year to coincide with the overseas deployment of Indian Navy ships to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

The bilateral exercise aims at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies.

'The understanding and confidence gained through such exercises has helped cooperation in anti-piracy operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. This exercise will further strengthen the cooperation and coordination,' the spokesperson said.

Most of the world's energy carriers transit through the Indian Ocean region. Due to increasing piracy and maritime terrorism, navies of several countries have been cooperating with each other to strengthen maritime security in the region.

'Naval cooperation between India and the France epitomises this and is in the long term interests of both countries. Both navies have, over the years, undertaken bilateral activities such as exercises at sea, training visits and courses, information exchange, and technical cooperation. The navies have significant convergence of interests, especially in maritime security in this region,' said the navy spokesperson.


French carrier in India for joint naval drill

[sancho]

Disappointing, nothing about deploying MKIs, or 29Ks from land bases too.

[satishkumarcsc]

Disappointing, nothing about deploying MKIs, or 29Ks from land bases too.

Nah...MKIs are deployed only by AF. Check out Ex-Garuda for it. This is for deeper understanding of AC operations and CBG strike forces and maneuvers in high seas and joint operations of CBG. Seems like the scope has increased a lot as it involves a lot more ships. IN might be simulating a Persian Gulf situation. Or an enemy CBG. it might be about CBG escort also. There are lot of ships involved this time.

[Capt.Popeye]

Disappointing, nothing about deploying MKIs, or 29Ks from land bases too.

Going by the Press releases, no.
However in the past IAF Jaguar IMs from Lohegaon/Jamnagar were used in the CBG Attack/Defence scenarios. Can happen again with the MiG-29 Ks from Dabolim joining in. We'll get to know of it when it happens.
Sukhoi MKIs were not factored into these kind of excercises. It may happen when they are armed with Brahmos AShMs. But that is some time away.

[jbgt90]

Going by the Press releases, no.
However in the past IAF Jaguar IMs from Lohegaon/Jamnagar were used in the CBG Attack/Defence scenarios. Can happen again with the MiG-29 Ks from Dabolim joining in. We'll get to know of it when it happens.
Sukhoi MKIs were not factored into these kind of excercises. It may happen when they are armed with Brahmos AShMs. But that is some time away.

iaf jaguars in lohengaon and jamnagar are the naval strike variants , though flown by the airforce the operational command is with the navy . hence they were used earlier in naval drills.

[Capt.Popeye]

iaf jaguars in lohengaon and jamnagar are the naval strike variants , though flown by the airforce the operational command is with the navy . hence they were used earlier in naval drills.

i don't think so. Those assets are under IAF control. Co-ordination in use/deployment of these assets by IAF/IN is through MAO (Maritime Air Operations).

[Kinetic]

Disappointing, nothing about deploying MKIs, or 29Ks from land bases too.

Well said buddy! It was time for Vicky to be here. We would have watching Vikramaditya and Charles de Gaulle moving side by side.

OK, no problem. France is an important partner their naval capabilities are excellent. Their cooperation will be important in future.

[sancho]

Going by the Press releases, no.
However in the past IAF Jaguar IMs from Lohegaon/Jamnagar were used in the CBG Attack/Defence scenarios. Can happen again with the MiG-29 Ks from Dabolim joining in. We'll get to know of it when it happens.
Sukhoi MKIs were not factored into these kind of excercises. It may happen when they are armed with Brahmos AShMs. But that is some time away.

I said it before, that I don't understand why IAF has a dedicated squad for the anti ship role. Imo, either we use the best fighter for this, the MKI (and soon MMRCAs as well), or divert this role directly to IN. If IA can have their own combat helicopter to support their troops, why can't IN have their own shore based fighters for maritme patrol and support of vessels?
It would be ease the training, because the carrier fighter pilots will train mainly for anti ship role as well and air combats only secondary, while IAF pilots have different priorities.
Btw, correct me if I'm wrong, but the MKI already have Kh 31 and 35 missiles, which are superior in that role than any missile the Jags had so far right (Harpoon are coming now only)? And just as a fighter, with more range and payload, the MKI outclass the Jag IM anyway, so imo it would be very useful for IAF to train their pilots in attacking a carrier, especially with MKI and against such capable opponents (Rafale, E-2C combo).

Da..., I'm too late now. Cya

[marcos98]

Photos : Varuna-2011

[jbgt90]

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i don't think so. Those assets are under IAF control. Co-ordination in use/deployment of these assets by IAF/IN is through MAO (Maritime Air Operations).

i said that they are under the IAF but operational command lies with the navy . my school mate is an officer with INS Hansa . he is into servicing helecopters , he told me thats how i know .