Germany holds 1st joint air force exercise with India

The German Air Force is coming to India for the first time for a joint exercise with Spanish and French colleagues in August, reported dpa.

The menoeuvres, known as Tarang Shakti Phase 1, will take place from August 6 to 14, a German air force spokesman announced.

Germany and other European countries are very interested in cooperating more closely with the world's most populous democracy, in part, observers say, because of China's expansionist behaviour.

Relations between the People's Republic and neighbouring India are tense due to border disputes and other disagreements.

Germany is also interested in a potential billion-euro submarine deal with India. The government in New Delhi is currently looking for a co-operation partner for the local production of conventional submarines through a technology transfer. Two proposals for German-Indian and Spanish-Indian co-operation are currently being evaluated.