French Navy frigate pays goodwill visit to Mumbai, conducts drill with Indian warship

French Navy Ship Aconit, a La Fayette Class frigate, was on a goodwill visit to Mumbai from October 28 to November 2, and it participated in a military drill with an Indian warship, defence ministry said on Wednesday.

ship is under command of Cdr Jean-Bertrand Guyon and is one of five La Fayette Class frigates of French Navy. frigate h earlier visited Visakhapatnam in 2015.

Its Commanding Officer, Cdr Guyon, called on Vice miral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, and interacted with him over issues of mutual interest.

"During stay at Mumbai, ship's crew h professional and social interactions with personnel of Indian Navy. visit culminated with an exercise at sea with a warship of Indian Navy's Western Fleet," it said.

Over deces, cooperation between India and France has grown exponentially in various defence-related fields.

" current visit of FNS Aconit to Mumbai is a reflection of growing cooperation between two navies and ir enhanced interoperability. With peace and stability in region being of common interest, two navies are committed to working toger towards that goal," ministry said.

French frigate Chevalier Paul was also in Mumbai in November last year.