BY : IANS

Indian and French forces have been engaged in a sea and air war game off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden to help increase the interoperability of the two navies.

The exercise, codenamed Varuna-07, commenced Sep 11 and will conclude Wednesday.

The joint drill has witnessed manoeuvres such as visits to ships by airborne and sea-borne means, commando projection, air-to-surface exercises and the conduct of maritime patrols, an Indian Navy release said Tuesday.

The Indian Navy participation comprised the destroyer Rajput, the guided missile frigate Beas and the supply ship Jyoti, as well as two helicopters and several commando units.

The French contribution was in the shape of nine aircraft - six Mirage 2000s, two Puma helicopters and a maritime patrol aircraft - and two ships. These were the corvette Commandant Blaison and the frigate La Motte Picquet.

Varuna-07 was a continuation of the Varuna-06 exercise conducted in March-April 2006 off the Goa coast.

The French contribution was then centred on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

'India and France have been establishing a solid and ever-strengthening partnership that has been formalised since (they) signed a comprehensive defence agreement in 2006,' the navy release said.

Varuna-07 is indicative of the two countries' 'common will to develop and strengthen an ambitious co-operation' between them, the release added.