Indian navy officials on Monday, said that Indian stealth frigate INS Tarkash conducted a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) with French warships in the North Atlantic Ocean last week.
On a long-range overseas deployment, the warship engaged in a maritime partnership exercise with French naval vessels on July 29 and 30.
French fleet tanker FS Somme joined INS Tarkash to carry out maritime drills. Later INS Tarkash carried out joint air operations with maritime surveillance aircraft Falcon 50.
“The successful conduct of these surface and aerial exercises symbolises the high degree of professionalism and interoperability that exists between the two navies,” said one of the officials.
According to India media publication Outlook, the maritime cooperation between India and France has witnessed a major expansion in the last few years. In March, the Indian and French navies carried out a five-day mega wargame in the Arabian Sea, involving frontline ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters.
The two navies had carried out a mega wargame in the Arabian Sea in April last year as well. The French Navy had deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its entire carrier strike group in that exercise. This mega wargame reflected the closeness of the two countries and willingness by both to intensely cooperate in the maritime sphere.
