The multinational exercise LA PEROUSE, held from January 17 to 20, 2025, showcased a series of high-intensity naval drills aimed at enhancing maritime security and interoperability among Indo-Pacific nations. The exercise featured air defence drills, surface shoots, boarding operations, cross deck landings, and tactical manoeuvres, underscoring the participating navies’ collective commitment to safeguarding global maritime trade routes.
The Indian Navy announced on its official ‘X’ account, “Strengthening maritime bonds across the IndoPacific. Enhancing interoperability, building trust, and honing our skills together to ensure maritime security.
“Representing India, the indigenous destroyer INS Mumbai and P8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft actively participated in the sea phase of the exercise alongside major naval assets from eight other nations.
The Multinational Exercise LA PEROUSE witnessed a wide range of exercises across domains such as Air Defence Drills, Surface Shoots, Boarding Operations, Cross Deck Landings and Tactical Manoeuvres highlighting Co-ordination and our collective commitment to strengthen… https://t.co/SDcqPeJHB2 pic.twitter.com/XiGP81eVdS
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 22, 2025
Indigenous Destroyer INSMumbai & long-range maritime surveillance P8I aircraft participated in the sea phase of LAPEROUSE.
Exercise LA PEROUSE will witness navies from France, Indonesia, India, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada engaging in advanced-level exercises across all three domains of maritime warfare.
As per sources, the exercise features the participation of 13 naval vessels and over 30 aircraft.
The exercise provides an opportunity for the participating navies to exchange best practices and further the long-standing cooperation among the like-minded nations enhancing collaboration towards safer and secure maritime domain.
#CLEMENCEAU25 | On vous explique l’exercice #LAPEROUSE25 !
Depuis le 16/01, le GAN participe à la 5e édition de l’exercice La Perouse.
🫡 Qui : 9 nations riveraines de l’Indopacifique (France, Inde, Malaisie, Singapour, Indonésie, Royaume-Unis, États-Unis, Australie et Canada). pic.twitter.com/4tppZUgMRL— Marine nationale (@MarineNationale) January 21, 2025
Participating Nations and Assets
Australia: Destroyer HMAS Hobart
Canada: Destroyer HMCS Ottawa
United States: Littoral Combat Ship USS Savannah
France: French Carrier Strike Group (CSG)
India: Destroyer INS Mumbai
Indonesia: Land support for the French Atlantique 2 patrol aircraft
Malaysia: Destroyer FFG Lekir, its embarked helicopter, and the training vessel Gagah Samudera
United Kingdom: Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Spey
Singapore: Patrol Vessel RSN Independence
Strategic Importance of the Exercise
The naval drills were conducted in the critical maritime chokepoints of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, including the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.
The Malacca Strait, known as the world’s most heavily used strait, handles 20% of global cargo shipping traffic, amounting to 2 billion tons of goods annually. With over 85,000 ships transiting every year—approximately one tanker every 8 minutes—this waterway serves as a vital link connecting the Middle East, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific.
The Sunda Strait bridges the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but its location makes it prone to natural risks like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Similarly, the Lombok Strait offers direct access between the southern Indian Ocean and the Macassar Strait, ensuring connectivity for maritime trade.
These straits are vital for global commerce yet remain vulnerable to a variety of threats, including illegal immigration, drug trafficking, environmental hazards, and natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.
#IndianNavy's mission deployed indigenous guided missile destroyer #INSMumbai arrived at Jakarta, #Indonesia on #15Jan 25 to participate in multi-national exercise #LAPEROUSE25.
Exercise #LAPEROUSE would witness navies from France, Indonesia, India, Australia, United States,… pic.twitter.com/CRMp2flzhq
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 18, 2025
Leveraging Technology for Maritime Coordination
A key feature of the exercise was the use of IORIS (Indian Ocean Regional Information Sharing platform), a cutting-edge communication and coordination system. Participating navies utilised IORIS to share real-time information and synchronise operations, ensuring an effective collective response to simulated maritime crises.
🇫🇷 and 🇸🇬 forces operating together
From 16 to 24 Jan the Carrier Strike Group centered around the Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle participate in the 5th edition of the multinational exercise #LAPEROUSE25 organized by the🇫🇷Navy between 9 Indo-Pacific navies🇫🇷🇲🇾🇸🇬🇬🇧🇺🇸🇦🇺🇨🇦🇮🇳🇮🇩 pic.twitter.com/ScElR29rbN— France in Singapore (@FranceinSG) January 21, 2025
.@HMS_Spey has sailed from Jakarta to join multi national exercise #LAPEROUSE25 in the eastern Indian Ocean, centred on the French carrier strike group.
🇫🇷🇬🇧🇦🇺 🇮🇳🇨🇦🇺🇸🇮🇩🇲🇾🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/DTiX7sRgyt
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) January 18, 2025
The Multinational Exercise LA PEROUSE exemplifies the growing cooperation among Indo-Pacific nations in safeguarding the region’s waters, emphasizing trust, skill-sharing, and joint operational readiness to tackle emerging maritime challenges.
