MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The SSN-involving Russian- French sea exercise to be held in Norwegian Sea Monday to Friday will be aimed at operational adjustment, Admiral Gennady Suchkov, Northern Fleet Commander, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The exercise will be aimed at operational adjustment. This implies joint maneuvering, submersion and emersion, communication, and other types of coordination. Some anti- submarine skills will also be trained," he said.
He also said that that this was the first step towards an underwater collision avoidance convention advocated by Russia.
After the exercise the French ships will visit Severomorsk (the base of the Northern Fleet - Interfax-AVN).
According to the Russian Navy HQ, France has tailored the Latouche Treville anti-submarine ship and the SSN Casabianca (displacement 2,385/2,670 tonnes, crew 66).
Russia will tailor the Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine ship and the SSN Vepr (displacement 8,140/12,770 tonnes, crew 63).
A source in the Russian General Staff had previously told Interfax-Military News Agency that "France is the only NATO member that agreed to train submarine coordination with Russia."