Exercise Varuna

Particulars

Description

Initiation Year

1983 and renamed as Varuna in 2001.

Venue

• The joint-exercises are held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea.
• 2024 edition is being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea.

Aim and Objectives

• Improving Indo-French coordination on capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare.
• To strengthen India-France strategic bilateral relationship.

Indian Navy's participants

P-8I aircraft and INS Tabar.

P-8I Aircraft

• It is an American origin Aircraft.
• The Indian Navy has twelve P8i aircraft in total.
• Role: Coastal patrolling, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search-and-rescue, anti-piracy, and supporting operations of other arms of the military.
• Significance of P-8I’s Participation: Reflects growing sophistication and complexity of joint operations.

INS Tabar

• INS Tabar, is a stealth frigate built for the Indian Navy in Russia.
• The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
• The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements with reference to Exercise Varuna:

1. It is an annual Naval Exercise between India and France.
2. Indian Navy P8I aircraft arrived in France for this exercise marking its first deployment in Europe.
3. INS Tabar also participated in this exercise marking its first exercise in the Mediterranean Sea.

How many of the above statement/s is/are correct?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. All three

D. None

Answer: B

Statement 1 is correct: it is an annual Naval Exercise between India and France. The 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna is being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, 2024.

Statement 2 is correct: An Indian Navy P8I aircraft has arrived in France for 'Exercise Varuna' with the French Navy, marking its first deployment in Europe. The bilateral naval exercise, scheduled from September 2 to 4 in the Mediterranean Sea, will feature advanced tactical maneuvers, highlighting growing coordination between the two navies.

Statement 3 is incorrect: INS Tabar also participated in this exercise, but it was not it’s first exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Earlier INS Tabar carried out a military exercise with a frontline warship of the Egyptian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.