German Air Force is exercising together with India for first time, says envoy on Tarang Shakti exercise

"This is the first time that the German Air Force is exercising together with the Indian Air Force, and it is also the first time that it flies in India - a truly historic moment," Ackermann said in an official statement.

"This extensive multilateral exercise deepens our security and political ties with India and the region. We are working on a security and defence partnership between our countries," he added.

Following this, the Lieutenant General and Inspector of the German Air Force stated, "Tarang Shakti is our first exercise with the Indian Air Force in India."

"We have been working on this for a long time with our Indian partners and now the time has come. In this unstable world, you cannot look at the world regions in isolation from one another; it is about partnerships around the globe," he added.

A contingent from the French Air and Space Force will participate in India's first multilateral air exercise, Tarang Shakti-2024, which is set to begin at Air Force Station Sulur in Tamil Nadu on August 6.

The French contingent will comprise three Rafale fighter jets, one Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, and one A400M, with a total of 160 Air Force personnel, according to French Embassy in India press release.

In the press release, the French Embassy in India stated, "Three other nations are participating in the first phase of this exercise, including EU Member States Germany and Spain, which have been partners of the Pacific Skies deployment from Alaska to India."

The French contingent's participation forms part of its two-month-long mission across the Indo-Pacific region, which started in France at the end of June and will conclude on August 15, according to the French Embassy in India press release.

The French Embassy in India further stated, "The mission's goals are to demonstrate France's ability to protect its sovereignty as a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific with several territories in the region, promote the rule of law and multilateralism in this zone, and enhance interoperability with key partners like India. By the end of its mission, the PEGASE 24 will have made stopovers in 13 partner nations and taken part in three major exercises throughout this period, including Tarang Shakti."

The armed forces of France and India maintain an intense schedule of exercises that go back decades and illustrate the trust underpinning the France-India strategic partnership. These include the VARUNA Navy exercises (dating back to 1983), GARUDA Air exercises, and SHAKTI Army exercises. (ANI)