France, Australia, Japan, India & USN:
BAY OF BENGAL (April 5, 2021) Ships operate in the Bay of Bengal in support of exercise La Perouse 2021, April 5. La Perouse consists of naval assets from Australia, France, India, Japan and the United States. La Perouse is an exercise conducted during the annual French Navy midshipman deployment called Mission Jeanne d'Arc. The exercise is designed to conduct training, enhance cooperation in maritime surveillance, maritime interdiction operations, and air operations.
La Pérouse is led by the French Navy with participation of Mistral-class LHD
Tonnerre and La Fayette-class frigate
Surcouf. The US Navy is represented in the exercise by San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship
Somerset. Her Majesty’s Australian Ships (HMAS)
Anzac, a frigate and tanker
Sirius have been deployed by the Royal Australian Navy for participation in the exercise while Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) is represented by the destroyer
Akebono. In addition to the ships, integral helicopters embarked onboard ships will also participate in the exercise. Indian Navy Ships INS
Satpura (with an integral helicopter embarked) and INS
Kiltanalong with P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating, for the first time
