For the first time ever, the Indian Navy sent a big fleet of four vessels as far out as the Atlantic Ocean for Varuna -- the Indo-French naval exercise that is carried out every year for the last seven years.
This year, apart from aiming at conventional and anti-submarine warfare, these exercises will also focus on training for anti-piracy and anti-terrorism operations.
Destroyer INS Delhi reached the French port of Brest in Brittany. Being the flagship of a fleet of four Indian vessels, it casted off along with three French warships and 1300 Indian Navy personnel 6,000 nautical miles away from home.
"We've been out since mid may and we'll be away from the home port till August. So this itself speaks for the sustenance and reach of the Indian Navy," said Rear Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer, Indian Western Fleet.
NDTV travelled to the port of Brest boarding the French battleship Primauguet, travelling into the Atlantic.
On board the French Frigate Primauguet are 245 French marine officers of which 21 are women. This ship is primarily equipped for anti-submarine warfare, which is fast becoming a priority for the French.
"Varuna also concentrates particularly on anti-submarines although it's not the only focus. Given the rising number of submarines in the world we will all be confronted with this menace. So it's interesting to train ourselves," said Captain Arnaud Provost-Fleury, Commander, French Frigate Primauguet.
Firing and maneuvering exercises, replenishing at sea and station keeping are on the agenda for the next few days of the exercise. The personnel on both sides feel that the Indian and French navies, with 11 yrs of bilateral cooperation, communicate better.
"One of the aims in having me on board is to streamline the communication in case there is a problem in the exchange in information. But so far we've had no such problem. Similarly the French have also sent personnel on board the Indian ships so they can also learn," said Lieutenant Rahil Rai.
The frigates Brahmputra, Beas and tanker Aditya, with their helicopters Chetak and Sea King, are also participating in the joint naval exercise. These Indian vessels have all been indigenously built.
"The rest of the navies are 250-350 years old in shipbuilding experience and these ships that you see here, we've made it in about 50 years. That's no mean feat," said Commander S Sreekumar.
The onboard helicopter, the Lynx, is equipped for anti-submarine warfare. This is only one example of Indo-French cooperation in the area of defence. Now India has also been invited for the French Bastille Day on July 14.
