Recently the Indian MiG-29Ks took on the French Rafale Jets during the bilateral Varuna Naval Exercise over the Arabian Sea. The annually held Varuna naval exercise is an integral part of the Indo-French military relationship and consists of naval drills between the French and Indian Navy.
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Varuna Naval Exercise
Both the Mig-29K and Rafale aircrafts were divided into two groups with one marked as the belligerent team while the second group as the defensive team who would attempt to check the ariel intrusion.
India’s MiGs will be deployed on INS Vikramaditya (The Indian Aircraft Carrier) while the French Navy’s Rafales took-off from their nuclear-powered aircraft carrier – Charles De Gaulle.
The annually held Varuna naval exercise is an integral part of the Indo-French military relationship and consists of naval drills between the French and Indian Navy. The joint exercises are held with the purpose of enhancing Indo-French con capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare and information sharing.
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Much information was not available but according to media reports, Indian MiG’s were able to detect, track and engage the more-sophisticated Rafale jets. The French Rafales are set to become the backbone of the Indian Air Force. Rafale is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. The Rafale is referred to as an “omnirole” aircraft by Dassault.
