Varuna 2026: INS Trishul joins 24th India-France naval exercise
Why in the news
Indian Navy frigate INS Trishul took part in the 24th edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy, the Press Information Bureau reported on 1 October 2026.
Key facts
- Arrival: INS Trishul reached Toulon, France on 22 September 2026.
- Harbour phase: professional exchanges, sports fixtures and cultural interaction; the crew toured the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the frigates Forbin and La Fayette.
- Sea phase: INS Trishul exercised with French frigates Forbin and La Fayette, submarine Suffren, NH90 helicopters and Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
- Drills: anti-submarine, anti-surface and live firing exercises, plus cross-deck helicopter landings, to improve interoperability.
- The crew laid a wreath at the Mazargues War Memorial, Marseille, honouring 205 Indian soldiers who died in the World Wars.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exercise | Varuna (India-France) |
| Edition | 24th |
| Indian ship | INS Trishul (Talwar-class frigate) |
| Port of call | Toulon, France |
| Started | 1993; named Varuna in 2001 |
About Varuna and INS Trishul
The India-France naval exercise was first held in 1993 and was given the name Varuna in 2001. It is seen as a hallmark of the strategic partnership between the two countries and has grown in scope and complexity over the years. INS Trishul is a Talwar-class frigate built in Russia and commissioned on 25 June 2003; it belongs to the Western Naval Command.
Exam angle
- Varuna: India-France naval exercise; started 1993, named Varuna in 2001.
- 2026 edition: 24th, with INS Trishul at Toulon.
- INS Trishul is a frigate, not a destroyer.