Exercise VARUNA 2026, Date, Host, India-France Defence Cooperation

Exercise VARUNA 2026 is the 24th edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. The exercise reflects the long term India-France maritime partnership and focuses on operational coordination, interoperability, experience sharing and mutual understanding. The 2026 edition is being hosted by France at Toulon Naval Base, an important French naval facility on the Mediterranean coast.

Exercise VARUNA 2026

The Exercise VARUNA 2026 is being conducted between the Indian Navy and French Navy at Toulon, France. INS Trishul is participating in the 24th edition with French naval units, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft.

• Date: The exercise took place between September 22 to September 28, 2026. INS Trishul arrived at Toulon on 22 September 2026. 
• Host: France is hosting the exercise at the Toulon Naval Base on the Mediterranean coast.
• Participating Navies: The exercise involves the Indian Navy and French Navy, also known as Marine Nationale. It is the annual bilateral maritime engagement between the two countries.
• Indian Warship: Indian Navy guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul is participating in the 2026 edition. Its participation supports operational exchanges and coordinated maritime activities.
• Exercise VARUNA Phases 2026:
  • Harbour Phase: The harbour phase included professional interactions, operational briefings, cross deck visits, expert exchanges, sporting activities and cultural engagements between personnel of both navies.
  • Sea Phase: INS Trishul operated with FDA Forbin, FLF La Fayette and SNA Suffren. NH90 helicopters and Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft also participated in coordinated maritime activities.
• Operational Drills: The sea phase included anti submarine warfare, anti surface exercises, live firing activities and cross deck helicopter landing serials. These activities improved coordination during complex maritime operations.
• Professional Exchanges: Officers and personnel exchanged operational experiences and practices. The activities were aimed at improving interoperability and developing a better understanding of each navy’s operational procedures.
• Ship Visits: INS Trishul’s crew visited French Navy ships Charles de Gaulle, Forbin and La Fayette. The visits provided exposure to carrier operations, aviation facilities and onboard practices.

Exercise VARUNA 2026 Features

The VARUNA Naval Exercise 2026 combines professional interaction with practical maritime drills. Its structure provides opportunities for both navies to train together and exchange operational knowledge.

• Two Phase Structure: The exercise is divided into harbour and sea phases. This allows professional discussions and tactical maritime activities to be conducted as separate but connected engagements.
• Interoperability: Joint activities improve communication and operational coordination. They help both navies develop the ability to work together during maritime missions.
• Anti Submarine Operations: Anti submarine warfare forms an important part of the sea phase activities. These drills strengthen coordination in detecting and responding to underwater threats.
• Surface Operations: Anti surface exercises and coordinated naval manoeuvres provide practical training for maritime combat situations and improve tactical cooperation between participating units.
• Naval Aviation: NH90 helicopters and Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft participated in the sea phase. Cross deck helicopter landing serials also supported aviation interoperability.
• Experience Sharing: Cross deck visits and professional interactions allow personnel to exchange operational experiences, practices and lessons from their respective naval environments.
• Cultural Engagement: The harbour phase included cultural and sporting activities. INS Trishul hosted a cultural interaction and participated in a friendly volleyball match with French personnel.

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India-France Defence Cooperation

India and France have developed defence cooperation across naval, air and industrial domains. Their partnership also reflects an emphasis on strategic autonomy and cooperation in a multipolar international environment.

• Scorpène Submarines: Six Kalvari class Scorpène conventional diesel electric attack submarines have been constructed domestically under Project 75 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. Approvals have also been given for three additional follow on submarines.
• Rafale Aircraft: India has inducted 36 Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force. The carrier borne Rafale M has also been selected for India’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
• Aero Engine Cooperation: Safran and the Defence Research and Development Organisation are working together on indigenous jet engine design and manufacturing.
• Indo-Pacific Presence: France is a resident Indo-Pacific power through territories including Réunion Island, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
• French EEZ: More than 93% of France’s global Exclusive Economic Zone lies in the Indo-Pacific. More than 1.6 million French citizens live in the region.
• Strategic Autonomy: India and France support strategic autonomy and avoid rigid Cold War style binary blocs. Both countries also seek to balance emerging regional power dynamics.

India-France Bilateral Military Exercises

India-France military cooperation extends beyond naval activities. The two countries conduct bilateral exercises involving their air forces, armies and joint humanitarian operations.

• Exercise GARUDA: GARUDA is a bilateral air combat exercise between the Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force. It includes air defence, strike and mid air refuelling missions.
• Exercise SHAKTI: SHAKTI is a biennial joint Army exercise. It focuses on counter terrorism and semi urban combat operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate.
• Exercise FRINJEX: FRINJEX is a joint Army engagement designed to improve interoperability in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, counter terror deployments and small team coordination.
• Exercise La Pérouse: La Pérouse is a French led multinational naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. It brings together India, France, the United States, Japan and Australia.
• Maritime Partnership: Alongside GARUDA, SHAKTI and FRINJEX, VARUNA provides a dedicated platform for India-France naval cooperation. The Exercise VARUNA 2026 therefore forms part of a wider defence relationship covering maritime, air, land and multinational security cooperation.

Exercise VARUNA 2026 Significance

The VARUNA Exercise 2026 strengthens India’s maritime engagement with France. It also supports cooperation related to maritime security, interoperability and the wider Indo Pacific strategic partnership.

• Maritime Security: The exercise supports cooperation between India and France for maintaining maritime security and protecting vital Sea Lanes of Communication.
• Rules Based Maritime Order: Regular naval cooperation contributes to the shared India-France approach towards freedom of navigation and a rules based maritime order.
• Indo-Pacific Cooperation: The exercise strengthens the maritime dimension of the India-France Indo-Pacific roadmap. It also supports future joint naval deployments.
• Logistics Cooperation: VARUNA complements reciprocal logistics arrangements between India and France. These arrangements support greater flexibility for naval operations and deployments.
• Long Range Capability: The exercise has been conducted across different maritime regions, including the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic. This reflects the ability to undertake long range naval deployments.