INS Trishul Arrives at Toulon for 24th India-France Maritime Exercise Varuna

INS Trishul (F43), a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived at the Toulon naval base in France on 22 September 2026 for the 24th edition of the India-France bilateral maritime exercise Varuna. The exercise series began in 1983 and received the name “Varuna” in 2001.

Varuna Exercise

Varuna is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, with cross-deck visits, operational interactions, and sporting engagements.

The exercise framework includes professional exchanges that cover naval procedures, seamanship, and coordination at sea. The bilateral drill is part of India-France defence cooperation in the maritime domain.

INS Trishul and Its Upgrades

INS Trishul is a guided missile frigate with the pennant number F43. The ship has received major upgrades in recent years, including replacement of legacy Russian systems.

The modernised systems on board include a BrahMos-capable UVLM, an Atlas Elektronik ACTAS stern-mounted sonar, and a new anti-torpedo decoy system. These systems are associated with anti-surface warfare, underwater surveillance, and torpedo defence.

India-France Naval Cooperation

India and France conduct regular naval exercises in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean region. Toulon is a major French naval base on the Mediterranean coast and serves as a key port for French naval operations.

Maritime exercises between the two navies include communication drills, tactical manoeuvres, and interoperability training. Such exercises are part of broader defence engagement between the two countries.

Important Facts for Exams

• Varuna is the name of the India-France naval exercise series, and the term was adopted in 2001.
• The first exercise in the Varuna series began in 1983.
• INS Trishul is a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy and carries the pennant number F43.
• ACTAS stands for Active Towed Array Sonar, a system used for underwater detection.

Exam Pointers

Cross-deck visits are a standard feature of naval exercises and involve personnel moving between ships of different navies. BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile system used by the Indian armed forces.