The naval version of the Rafale fighter jet, which has become an important political plank this election season, participated in the 10-day Indo-French naval exercise ‘Varuna’ which culminated on Friday, 10 May.
In a video accessed by news agency ANI, a Rafale aircraft can be seen being recovered onboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Earlier, reports quoted Alexandre Ziegler, the French Ambassador to India, having confirmed the presence of 20 Rafale fighter jets in the naval exercise.
Speaking to Times Now, Ziegler had said, “20 Rafale fighter jets will participate in exercise Varuna. These are naval version of the Rafale jets India is acquiring. The jets will be on French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and this is for no other country in the Indo-Pacific.”
According to a PTI report, this year's edition of the Indo-French naval exercise, which took place off the Goa coast, was the largest ever undertaken by the two navies and represents the climax of the strengthened maritime co-operation between India and France.
While the French Navy participated with French Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, FN ships Provence, LaTouche Treville, Forbin and tanker Marne along with an FN submarine, the Indian Navy took naval ships Chennai, Mumbai, Tarkash, tanker INS Deepak and a submarine to sea in the exercise, reported PTI.
(With inputs from Times Now, PTI and ANI)
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