The 23rd edition of Exercise VARUNA, a flagship naval drill between India and France, is set to take place from March 19 to 22, 2025, reaffirming the two nations’ strategic partnership and commitment to maritime security. Since its inception in 2001, VARUNA has evolved into a vital platform for high-intensity naval warfare training, strengthening operational synergy between the Indian and French Navies. As power struggles intensify in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), this year’s exercise promises a dynamic showcase of combat readiness and naval coordination.
Aircraft Carrier Powerhouse: Vikrant Meets Charles de Gaulle
A defining moment of VARUNA-2025 will be the joint deployment of India’s INS Vikrant and France’s Charles de Gaulle, two formidable aircraft carriers leading a fleet of fighter jets, destroyers, frigates, and an Indian Scorpene-class submarine. The drills will encompass air, surface, and sub-surface warfare, sharpening both Navies’ ability to operate seamlessly in high-threat environments.
Strategic Showdown in the Indo-Pacific
With rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, VARUNA-2025 will push the boundaries of naval coordination through a series of advanced military exercises, including:
- Air Combat Maneuvers: French Rafale-M jets will engage in high-speed mock dogfights against Indian MiG-29Ks, testing carrier-based aerial combat capabilities.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Operations: Amid China’s expanding submarine presence, ASW drills will focus on detecting and neutralizing underwater threats. Indian P-8I Poseidon and French ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft will coordinate sonar tracking and torpedo launches.
- Surface Warfare Tactics: Coordinated missile strikes, tactical firing, and synchronized formations will enhance combat preparedness against surface threats.
- Logistical & Strategic Coordination: Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) exercises will highlight the critical importance of sustained naval operations in prolonged conflict scenarios.
Beyond its military objectives, VARUNA strengthens India-France naval diplomacy, reinforcing their ability to project power and uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s Evolving Naval Strategy Amid Emerging Threats
VARUNA-2025 takes place against the backdrop of intensifying strategic competition in the Indian Ocean, where China’s “String of Pearls” strategy—its growing network of naval bases and outposts—presents a persistent challenge to India. The increased presence of Chinese warships, submarines, and surveillance vessels has prompted India to ramp up its Mission-Based Deployments (MBDs), yet countering deep-sea incursions remains an ongoing challenge.
With Beijing bolstering its submarine fleet, India faces an urgent need to expand its ASW capabilities, particularly as it grapples with a shortage of submarines and ASW helicopters. The Indian Ocean is more than a vast maritime zone—it is a contested geopolitical arena plagued by piracy, terrorism, illegal fishing, and arms trafficking. Maintaining maritime domain awareness and deepening naval partnerships will be crucial to preserving regional security.
India-France Naval Alliance: A Strategic Counterweight
France, a key player in the Indian Ocean through its overseas territories like Réunion and Mayotte, remains one of India’s most trusted strategic allies. Their partnership spans defense, space, and nuclear cooperation, with VARUNA serving as a powerful demonstration of their shared vision for a “free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.”
As the INS Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle sail together, conducting high-intensity drills in the Indian Ocean, India and France send a clear message of deterrence, preparedness, and unwavering maritime solidarity. “The seas belong to those who can defend them.”