Mumbai: INS Tarkash, on her long-range overseas deployment, conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Naval Ships in the North Atlantic Ocean on 29 and 30 July 2022. Replenishment at sea was exercised between Tarkash and the French Fleet Tanker FNS Somme.
This was followed by joint air operations with the maritime surveillance aircraft Falcon 50 participating in multiple simulated missile engagements and air defense drills. The successful conduct of these surface and aerial exercises symbolize the high degree of professionalism and interoperability that exists between the two navies.
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.
The French Navy, informally La Royale, is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world, ranking seventh in combined fleet tonnage and fifth in the number of naval vessels. Between the world wars, the French fleet was remarkable in its building of small numbers of ships that were “over the top” concerning their equivalents of other powers.
(Vinayak)