The Indian and French Navies recently conducted the Varuna Naval Exercise in the Arabian Sea. The Varuna, 2021 is a part of the Clemenceau 2021.
About Varuna 2021
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The exercise included surface and anti-weapon firings, tactical manoeuvres, rotary wing flying operations including cross deck helicopter landings and air defence and anti-submarine exercises.
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The Indian Navy was represented by Stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, INS Talwar, INS Tarkash, Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak, Chetak Integral helicopters and a Kalvari class submarine. Also, the P81 Long range Patrol Aircraft participated.
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The French Navy was represented by E2C Hawkeye aircrafts, Rafale-M fighter, Horizon class air defence destroyer Chevalier Paul.
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After VARUNA, 2021, the INS Tarkash is to continue its exercise with the French Navy CSG. During the exercise, the navies will conduct advanced surface, air-defence operations and anti-submarine operations.
Clemenceau 21
On February 21, 2021, the French Carrier Strike Group set sail for a long operational deployment called “Clemenceau 21”. With this mission, the French Navy deployed its military presence in areas of strategic interests namely Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
As a part of Clemenceau 21, France held the GASWEX with its allies. The other countries that participated in the GASWEX exercise were France, Japan, Belgium and US forces. The exercise was held in the Arabian Sea and in the Gulf of Oman.
What is CSG?
CSG is Carrier Strike Group. They are strategically pre-positioned. It is roughly composed of 7,500 personnel. It includes an aircraft carrier, a destroyer squadron, at least one cruiser, carrier wing of 65 to 70 aircrafts. Occasionally it also includes submarines.
The CSG of Japan that is participating in Clemenceau 21 is Nationale’s Charles De Gaulle.