According to information published by the French Embassy in India on November 19, 2021, the French Horizon-class frigate Chevalier Paul called at Mumbai naval port after taking part in a large-scale air and naval joint exercise off the coast of Maharashtra.
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Horizon-class frigate Chevalier Paul (Picture source: French embassy in India)
FNS Chevalier Paul is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of France’s permanent military presence in the region.
As part of this deployment, it is making a port call at Mumbai on November 18-19, and later at Kochi, marking Indo-French naval cooperation and the central role that India plays in France’s naval presence and strategy in the Indian Ocean.
Ahead of its port call in Mumbai, the Chevalier Paul took part in a large-scale Indo-French air and naval exercise on 16-17 November off the coast of Maharashtra.
This exercise brought together 16 Indian and French aircraft, including French Mirage 2000 and Rafale jets from the Abu Dhabi airbase, as well as the Chevalier Paul destroyer.
It aimed to simulate a highly complex air attack and defense scenario. It pitted two teams – each comprising both French and Indian pilots – against each other, in a demonstration of the high level of interoperability achieved by the French and Indian forces.
Earlier this year, Chevalier Paul took part in the 19th Indo-French “Varuna” naval exercise as part of the French carrier strike group.
Horizon-class frigates usually deploy with 32 "Aster 30" missiles for long-range interception and 16 "Aster 15" missiles for medium-range interception. The vessels are also fitted with 8 MM 40 Exocet Block III latest version of anti-ship missiles. All missiles were developed and produced by MBDA.
Chevalier Paul is fitted with a powerful tri-dimensional radar, the S1850M/SMART-L, capable of detecting targets more than 200 kilometers away and the EMPAR multifunction radar.
