Exercise FRINJEX

Why is in news? Maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army & French Army to be conducted at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram

Indian and French armies will have a new joint military exercise starting Tuesday at Thiruvananthapuram, further consolidating the strategic partnership that exists between New Delhi and Paris since 1998.

The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army will be conducted at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 07th and 08th March 2023.

It is for the first time armies of both the nations are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at tactical level.

The scope of the exercise involve establishment and operationalisation of a joint command post to secure an envisaged area for undertaking joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, establishing an Internally Displaced Population (IDP) camp and move of disaster relief material.

The Joint exercise will further cement defence cooperation with France which is a key aspect of the overall Indo-France strategic partnership.

The two countries have a well-established naval war game named Varuna that began in 1993 while the India-French joint air exercise Garuda too has matured with the seventh edition taking place in Jodhpur air station last November. There is also an established bilateral army exercise named Shakti between the two armies.