Germany keen on joint air wargame with India

Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi
Berlin, June 10 (PTI) Germany is exploring options of
conducting joint air combat exercises with the Indian Air
Force (IAF) even as it looks at India as a market for the the
EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, its Air Chief Aarne
Kreuzinger-Janick said here Thursday.
"India does joint combat training with US, France, Russia
and other countries. In future, we hope Germany and India can
engage in such exercises," Kreuzinger-Janick said here on the
sideslines of the Berlin Air Show.
India holds joint combat exercises with friendly
countries from time to time and is a much sought after nation
for the NATO countries for combined wargaming.
Indian and French air force have been involved in joint
air training, named Garuda, for several years now and the
fourth edition of these exercises will take place in France
this month.
These are held once in two years and both the countries
take turns in playing host to these exercises.
Kreuzinger-Janick agreed that Garuda could be a model
for India and Germany to "look at" for its joint air
exercises.
US and India hold joint exercises for the army and the
navy as well.
"But we (India and Germany) need to find an environment
where we can do that. We are also talking about joint
exercises with the Indian navy and army," Kreuzinger-Janick
said.
Germany has already discussed the issue with the Indian
government but an understanding has not been reached yet.
"Not yet. But we are in talks with India on joint
exercises. Perhaps, we can have a programme in future,"
he told Indian reporters in reply to a question.
He insisted that Indo-German air exercises could be held
periodically not only in one of the two countries but also in
Alaska, Sardinia or in some area along the Mediterranean Sea.
PTI