India and France will kick off their eighth round of Varuna joint exercises off Goa with India fielding a contingent of Jaguars strike aircraft and Canberra surveillance jets against French Atlantique II. The selection of Atlantique was no accident as Pakistan continues to use the maritime reconnaissance aircraft before eventually being replaced by P-3 Orion fleet. The Atlantique can carry 2.5 tons of bombs including guided bombs, torpedoes, depth charges, and mines. The plane is currently being used by France, Germany, Pakistan, Italy, and the Netherlands. In August 1999, a Pakistani Atlantique recon plane was shot down by Indian Mig-21s when it entered international border and refused to turn back..