Showcasing high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies, the three-day multilateral maritime exercise La Perouse kicked off in the Bay of Bengal waters today as Quad partners India, Japan, the United States and Australia participate in the French-led advanced naval operations.
It is for the first time that India has joined the annual exercise as Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura (with an integral helicopter embarked) and INS Kiltan along with P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft
exercise at sea with ships and aircraft of French Navy (FN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and United States Navy (USN) till April 7.
The exercise is seeing participation by French Navy Ships Tonnerre, an amphibious assault ship and frigate Surcouf. The United States Navy is represented in the exercise by amphibious transport dock ship Somerset. Her Majesty’s Australian Ships (HMAS) Anzac, a frigate and tanker Sirius have been deployed by RAN for participation in the exercise while Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) is represented by the destroyer Akebono. In addition to the ships, integral helicopters embarked onboard ships will also participate in the exercise.
It will witness complex and advanced naval operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea.
"The exercise will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with friendly navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order," said the Indian defence ministry today.
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The joint initiative, which reaffirms growing partnership and interoperability between India and its major partners, would be followed by a trilateral dialogue between the foreign ministers of India, Australia and France in Delhi on April 13 to further advance the common vision of Indo-Pacific, ensuring peace and stability.
The exercise provides an opportunity for the 'five like-minded, high-end naval forces' to develop closer links, sharpen their skills, and promote maritime cooperation throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Australia's Minister for Defence Peter Dutton welcomed the exercise, saying Australia’s participation highlights the importance of building and maintaining strong navy-to-navy relationships in the region.
“This exercise will see an Australian frigate and auxiliary oiler conduct a range of activities, including officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres, replenishments at sea and flying operations. Exercise La Perouse will also demonstrate the complementary capability of our partner nations and highlight our shared commitment to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific," said Dutton.
The first edition of the La Perouse joint exercise, initiated by France in 2019, included ships from Australia, Japan and the USA.
Las week, the US Navy's Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) conducted a "highly successful" exercise with the Indian Navy and Air Force to elevate capability and capacity in the maritime domain.
The exercise focused on complex operations such as anti-submarine warfare, joint air operations, and command and control (C2) integration. It demonstrated the capacity of the two nations to operate together to advance a common vision of Indo-Pacific, ensuring peace and stability.
USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and her embarked Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 75), the 'Wolf Pack' USS Russell (DGG 59), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) operated with INS Shivalik (F 47) with embarked helicopter, Maritime Patrol Aircraft (P-8I) from INAS 312 – 'The Albatross', and Indian Air Force aircraft from 'The Tigersharks' squadron.
As the Indian and the US forces exercised together seamlessly across all domains, demonstrating the compatibility of their platforms and operations on the sea and in the air, they also sent a strong message of building a strong partnership which would act as deterrence to potential malign actions.
In addition to the La Perouse exercise, France and India will also, in the coming weeks, hold a large-scale Varuna bilateral exercise in the Western Arabian Sea which will involve the French aircraft carrier battle group. The first joint Varuna naval exercise took place in 1983.
