Paris and New Delhi kicked off a dual carrier strike group exercise today with the beginning of Varuna 2025. The three-day-long exercise will see the FS Charles De Gaulle (F91) and INS Vikrant (R11) carriers conduct drills in the Indian Ocean amid French efforts to strengthen security ties with regional partners.
According to an Indian Navy release, activities in the 23rd iteration of annual bilateral naval drills include mock air-to-air combat between French Navy Rafale-M and Indian Navy MiG-29K fighters, anti-submarine drills, replenishment-at-sea and surface warfare exercises.
“Since its inception in 2001, VARUNA has evolved into a cornerstone of cooperation, showcasing the two nations’ commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy. This year’s edition promises an exhilarating array of maritime exercises and complex maneuvers across the sub-surface, surface, and air domains,” stated the release.
The Charles De Gaulle carrier strike group departed its homeport of Toulon last November to kick off Paris’ Mission Clémenceau 25, a five-month-long deployment across the Indo-Pacific to engage with allies and partners amid increasing regional tensions with China. At the beginning of its deployment to the Indo-Pacific, Charles De Gaulle visited the Indian Port of Goa and conducted minor surface and aerial activities with the Indian Navy in January
Before Varuna, the French carrier strike group participated in a multilateral exercise in the Indonesia archipelago and a multi-carrier drill in the Philippine Sea with Japan and the U.S. Paris also held its first joint patrol with Philippine forces in Manila’s exclusive economic zone with Charles De Gaulle.
23rd edition of #India – #France Bilateral Naval Exercise Varuna commences today #19Mar 25.#Varuna2025 will showcase the collaborative strength of the two Navies with
– Two aircraft carriers – #FrenchNavy‘s Charles De Gaulle & #IndianNavy‘s Vikrant alongwith their integral… pic.twitter.com/YeiBQv5Bga— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 19, 2025
USNI News boarded the French nuclear carrier during a port visit during the tail-end of Mission Clémenceau 25 in Malaysia earlier this month. At the time, escorts consisted of the destroyer FS Forbin (D620), frigates FS Provence (D652) and FS Alsace (D656) and fleet oiler FS Jacques Chevallier (A725). The air wing consists of 22 Rafale-M fighters, two E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft and a variety of helicopters for utility and anti-submarine purposes. Two patrol aircraft have also been attached to the force, operating from land-based airfields in partner nations throughout the deployment. A nuclear attack submarine is also with the carrier strike group.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy’s Vikrant carrier strike group’s participation comes just after the conclusion of the three-month-long Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise-2025. These drills, comparable to the U.S. Navy’s integrated battle program exercises, saw the Vikrant carrier battle group support amphibious operations and joint force activities across the Indian Ocean Region. While Charles De Gaulle previously exercised with INS Vikramaditya (R33) in previous iterations of Varuna, 2025’s drills will be the first time the French nuclear carrier participates alongside Vikrant. The Indian carrier was commissioned in 2022 and achieved full operational clearance last fall.
These drills come as Paris and New Delhi prepare to conclude a major arms deal over the sale of Scorpene attack submarines and Rafale fighters for the Indian Naval Air Arm, the latter of which are slated for embarkation on Vikrant. The two nations have deepened their defense cooperation – and Indo-Pacific naval operations – amid an increasingly assertive China.
“This collaboration underscores the shared vision of safeguarding a free, open, and secure maritime environment,” stated the Indian Navy release.
