Panaji: The ten day long Indo-French naval exercise, 'VARUNA', aimed at showcasing close ties between the two countries concluded off the Goa coast on Saturday.
The 14th edition of the exercise had commenced on April 23 and included both harbour and sea phase.
The French Navy was represented by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while the Indian Navy was represented by aircraft carrier INS Viraat in the exercise.
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema and other senior naval officers were on board aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on the final day of the sea phase of the exercise.
The Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983 and these exercises were termed ' VARUNA' in 2001.
The last such exercise was conducted in the Mediterranean Sea in July 2012 off Toulon.
