Indian Navy’s P-8I Aircraft Lands in France for Exercise Varuna with French Navy

The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft has made its first-ever deployment in Europe, arriving at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France. This deployment is part of the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna, a joint naval exercise with the French Navy.

The exercise, scheduled to take place in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, will feature advanced tactical exercises, showcasing the increasing cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and French navies. An Indian Navy spokesperson highlighted the event on X, emphasizing the significance of this milestone in Indo-French naval cooperation.

The Ministry of Defence recalled that the Indian Navy’s Alize aircraft last flew at Hyeres Airbase 63 years ago, operating from the former INS Vikrant. The bilateral naval exercise between India and France, which began in 1993 and was named ‘Varuna’ in 2001, has expanded in both scope and complexity over the years. This ongoing collaboration provides a valuable opportunity for both navies to strengthen their partnership and enhance maritime security.