INS Trishul reaches France for 24th edition of India-France naval exercise Varuna
The Indian Navy's guided-missile frigate INS Trishul arrived at the French naval base of Toulon to take part in the 24th edition of the bilateral naval exercise Varuna
The exercise comprises a harbour phase of professional engagements and a sea phase, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting engagements between the two navies
The engagement is intended to strengthen operational synergy and interoperability between the Indian and French navies
Exercise Varuna is one of India's longest-running bilateral naval exercises, alternately conducted in the Indian Ocean Region and the Mediterranean Sea
Exercise Varuna — India's Bilateral Naval Exercise Framework
Exercise Varuna is the annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy (Marine Nationale). Bilateral naval engagement between the two navies began in 1993 and was formally christened "Varuna" in 2001. Over more than two decades it has expanded from basic exercises into a complex exercise covering surface, sub-surface and air domains.
Key Details
- Bilateral naval cooperation began in 1993; renamed Exercise Varuna in 2001
- Venue alternates between the Indian Ocean Region and the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting both navies' areas of interest
- Activities typically include anti-submarine warfare, air defence exercises, cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea and (in some editions) minesweeping drills
- Distinct from India's other major bilateral/multilateral naval exercises: Malabar (with the US, Japan and Australia), Konkan (UK), SIMBEX (Singapore), Indra (Russia), and IBSAMAR (Brazil and South Africa)
The 2026 edition (the 24th) is hosted at Toulon, France's principal Mediterranean naval base, continuing the alternating-venue pattern the exercise has followed since inception.
India-France Strategic Partnership (1998) and the Defence Cooperation Framework
India and France established a Strategic Partnership in January 1998, when French President Jacques Chirac was chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations — India's first strategic partnership with a Western nation. The relationship was tested and strengthened weeks later when France was among the first major powers to open a dialogue with India following the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of May 1998.
Key Details
- Strategic Partnership established: 1998, anchored around defence, nuclear and space cooperation
- Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2006, providing an institutional framework for exercises and defence engagement
- Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2008, following India's exemption from Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines
- Agreement for Provision of Reciprocal Logistics Support signed in 2018, enabling mutual access to each other's naval and military facilities for logistics support
- Sister tri-service bilateral exercises under this framework: Exercise Shakti (Army) and Exercise Garuda (Air Force), alongside Exercise Varuna (Navy)
Exercise Varuna is conducted within this 1998 strategic-partnership architecture, and the Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (2018) is what enables port visits and sustained engagements such as INS Trishul's stay at Toulon.
Kalvari-Class (Scorpene) Submarines — India-France Defence-Industrial Cooperation
Under Project 75, India built six Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines, locally designated the Kalvari class, at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (Mumbai) under technology transfer from France's Naval Group (then DCNS). This is one of the most significant instances of India-France defence-industrial collaboration underpinning the broader strategic relationship.
Key Details
- Contract for six Scorpene-class submarines signed with DCNS (now Naval Group) in October 2006
- Built under technology transfer at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
- Lead vessel INS Kalvari commissioned in 2017; the sixth and final vessel, INS Vagsheer, was commissioned in January 2025, completing Project 75
- France has since proposed additional Scorpene-class submarines to the Indian Navy, discussed at the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue (February 2026)
The depth of industrial and platform-level cooperation represented by the Kalvari-class programme is the material backbone that operational exercises like Varuna are designed to exercise and reinforce.
- 24th edition of Exercise Varuna: 2026, hosted at Toulon, France
- Bilateral India-France naval exercises began: 1993; formally named "Varuna": 2001
- India-France Strategic Partnership established: 1998 (President Jacques Chirac, Republic Day chief guest) — India's first strategic partnership with a Western nation
- Key bilateral agreements: Defence Cooperation Agreement (2006), Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (2008), Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (2018)
- Sister tri-service bilateral exercises: Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Garuda (Air Force)
- Kalvari-class (Scorpene) submarines: 6 built under Project 75 with France's Naval Group at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders; contract signed October 2006; last-of-class INS Vagsheer commissioned January 2025