New Delhi, May 9: Indian Navy’s P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft on Monday arrived at La Reunion Island in Southern Indian Ocean Region to engage with French warships operating in the region.
The aircraft came here on a five-day deployment, Indian Navy said. “During the deployment scheduled from May 9-13, 2022, the P8I aircraft will engage with French warships operating in the region and undertake coordinated surveillance missions in area to enhance maritime safety and security in the Southern Indian Ocean, including the Mozambique Channel,” the Indian Navy said.
The P8I aircraft, with their advanced capabilities, endurance and demonstrated reach, had previously operated from La Reunion in March 2020.
The Indian and French navies have been regularly undertaking coordinated operations, as part of the Varuna series of bilateral exercises.
During the recently concluded visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris, the two sides welcomed the ongoing intense cooperation across all defence domains and said that Joint exercises (Shakti, Varuna, Pegase, Desert Knight, Garuda) illustrate efforts towards better integration and interoperability, wherever possible.
The joint statement further said that maritime cooperation between India and France has reached new levels of trust and will continue through exercises, exchanges and joint endeavours throughout the Indian Ocean.
