French and Indian navies strengthen cooperation with joint tactical exercises

In a display of strong military cooperation, the French Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conducted joint exercises with the Indian Navy on January 9, 2025, in the Indian Ocean.

This took place as the French fleet, centered around the aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, set sail for the next phase of Mission Clemenceau 25, heading towards the Indonesian archipelago.

After stopping in Goa and Kochi along India’s western coast, the CSG engaged in tactical drills with the Indian Navy. The exercises involved the French CSG destroyer and the Indian frigate INS Mormugao, which worked together on joint navigation and tactical evolution manoeuvres. The two ships also coordinated air operations by deploying their helicopters for a cross-deck manoeuvre.

Further strengthening cooperation, the French tanker FNS Jacques Chevallier conducted a replenishment operation at sea, refueling the INS Mormugao. At the same time, Indian Sukhoi and Jaguar fighter jets collaborated with Rafale Marine aircraft from the French Navy’s air fleet for an anti-aircraft exercise.

On January 10, a French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft made a brief stopover in India before continuing its journey to Indonesia to join the French naval forces. This logistical stop highlighted the ongoing strategic partnership between India and France, allowing the French Navy to operate efficiently far from its home base.

These maneuvers underscored the close interoperability between the two navies, a relationship fostered through the annual bilateral naval exercise, VARUNA, which has been held since 1983. This year’s edition will see the French CSG participating alongside the Indian Navy upon its return to the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the two nations share a broader strategic partnership, encompassing cooperation on land (SHAKTI), in the air (GARUDA), and at sea (VARUNA), with India regularly supporting French Navy operations through multiple port stopovers since 2022.