The exercise was aimed at optimising maritime coordination amongst the participating navies

The Indian Navy joined the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, Royal Navy and the United States Navy during Exercise La Perouse held in the Indian Ocean Region on Monday and Tuesday.

This is the third edition of the multilateral exercise La Perouse which is conducted biennially by the French Navy.

According to India's Ministry of Defence, the exercise was aimed at enhancing maritime domain awareness and optimising maritime coordination amongst the participating navies in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The two-day exercise provided an opportunity for like minded navies to develop closer links in planning, coordination and information sharing for seamless maritime operations. The exercise witnessed complex and advanced naval operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare, air defence exercises, cross deck landings and tactical manoeuvres, the ministry said.

Indigenously built guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri and fleet tanker INS Jyoti participated in this edition of the exercise.

"Participation of Indian Navy in the exercise showcases the high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies, and their commitment to a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region," the Ministry of Defence pointed out.