Article Posted on : - Feb 22, 2011

Agapanthus: operations and exercises with US forces. Photo: EMA/ NAVY

PARIS (BNS): The French Navy has completed the four months exercise ‘Operation Agapanthus 2010’ in Indian Ocean on Monday.

The Operation Agapanthus 2010 took place from October 2010 to February 2011, in several phases.

During this period, the French carrier battle group has worked closely with his US counterpart. US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln participated with French Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to support troops contributing to ISAF (International Security Assistance Force security) deployed in Afghanistan.

Around 23 aircraft of the air group and have completed more than 1,000 flying hours in favour of the NATO International Security Assistance.

Other bilateral exercises were also conducted with Indian armed forces, UAE and Saudi Arabia, to test the interoperability of French military forces and to share expertise with the partners.

The operation Agapanthus 2010 has also allowed the Navy to contribute to the fight against piracy and against terrorism in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in particular.