Exercise Varuna

About Exercise Varuna:

• It is the bilateral Naval Exercisebetween India and France.
• This bilateral exercise between the two navies was initiated in 1993.
• It was named ‘VARUNA’ in 2001and has become a hallmark of India-France's strategic bilateral relationship.
• The 2024 edition of Indo-French bilateral naval ‘Exercise Varuna’ is scheduled in the Mediterranean Sea.
• It includes advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability between the two navies.
• The Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft, renowned for its maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, will play a pivotal role in these exercises and it joins the INS Tabar.
• The P-8I’s participation in Exercise Varuna reflects the growing sophistication and complexity of the joint operations between the Indian and French navies.

Key facts about P-8I aircraft

• P-8I is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft being manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
• It replaced the ageing fleet of the Indian Navy’s Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft.