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Ranjit
B Rai
IDU Update (September 2007)
 Within
the framework of the many bilateral and other defence arrangements
that India has entered in to, the Indian and the French Navy
just completed "Varuna 07", a sea and air military
exercise that was held for a full week from 11 Sep 07 off
the Somali shore line and in the Gulf of Aden, where a Spanish
Navy ship had intercepted a North Korean ship carrying Scud
missiles for Yemen, which were finally released. President
Bush has since announced the PSI Proliferation Security Initiative
at Krakow in Poland for WMD interception, but is still to
find support. The Indian Navy has supported the move as it
is very close to the US Navy and the latest 18,000 ton LPD
joking called the newest 'Americamn Toy", the INS Jalshawa
joined the Eastern Fleet. It is a significant addition with
6 SH-3 Seaking Sirkosky helicopters.
The Indian
Navy has gained much by exercising with foreign navies as
ships remain operational in competitive spirit and the officers
and men go to foreign ports where it is like a holiday abroad.
The foreign allowances since the earlier days too have improved
and local hospitality is truly warm especially by home sick
NRIs. Indian Navy's operational readiness is helped and the
Flag is well shown. Aiming at increasing the two navies' interoperability,
both Navies carried out war like maneuvers such as the visiting
of ships by airborne and seaborne means, commando projection
and air to surface exercise as well as a maritime patrol in
the above mentioned maritime zones off Djibouti, where the
French have a presence and call themselves a Indian ocean
Riparian state.
The exercise
was high level with the French contribution from the Djibouti
based unit of six Mirage 2000 and two Pumas helicopters, as
well as from those placed under Alindien's (the Admiral commanding
the Indian Ocean maritime zone) command; a maritime patrol
aircraft, a corvette "Commandant Blaison" and the
"La Motte Picquet" frigate, spearheaded the conduct
of exercise from the French side. The Indian Navy participated
with INS "Rajput", Kashin class guided missile destroyer
which has the Brahmos missiles and Uran fitted INS "Beas",
and supply tanker INS "Jyoti" - two helicopters
as well as several commando units called Marcos.
"Varuna
07" is a continuation of the yearly-organized exercise,
such as Varuna 06" held in March and April 2006 of Goa.
The French contribution was then centered on the aircraft
carrier group "Charles de Gaulle". Garuda biennial
exercises carried out last February, called "Garuda III"associated
Indian and French Air Force squadrons and was a learning experience.
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India
and France have been establishing a solid and ever -strengthening
partnership that has been formalised since the Indian Prime
Minister and French President signed a comprehensive defence
agreement between the two countries in 2006. "Varuna
07" is as such very much a significant step in the common
will to develop and strengthen an ambitious co-operation between
the two countries. By all reports the standard of exercises
was high and the ships will break on 18th February.
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