Flying Tejas was a great experience, says German Air Force Chief

The Chief of the German Air Force Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz has termed his sortie on Indian Air Force's indigenous Indian fighter jet Tejas as a "great experience".

He is in India for the India Air Force exercises Tarang Shakti. It is the Indian Air Force's largest air exercise.

The participating countries include Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Greece, Australia, Bangladesh, Singapore, the UAE, and the US.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, " For the German Air Force, it was the first time that we practiced in India with the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force organised an excellent multinational exercise".

PHOTOS:India's first multinational air exerciseTarangShakti kicks off

Germany participated in the exercises with five Eurofighterjets and an A400M transport aircraft. Full Interview:

Sidhant Sibal: Your first reflections of Indian Air Force's Tarang Shakti exercises?

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: For the German Air Force, it was the first time that we practiced in India with the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force organised an excellent multinational exercise. Together with the Spanish, French and British air forces, we practiced intensively for more than a week. As it was the first exercise, the initial focus was on getting to know each other. As the exercise progressed, the tasks became more and more operational. In the end, we flew through complex scenarios.

Sidhant Sibal: What has been the focus of the exercises for the German side?

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: The exercise was especially for us and our partners as a sign that we stand side by side. That we can act together. Pacific Skies and the last of our five exercises, Tarang Shakti, were never against anyone but always for us and our partners.

Sidhant Sibal: What kind of German assets are involved in the exercises if you can talk about that.

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: We took part in Tarang Shakti with five Eurofighter jets and an A400M transport aircraft.

VIDEO:Tarang Shakti: Indian Airforce hosts joint air defence exercise with France, Germany & Spain

Sidhant Sibal: You have met your Indian counterpart several times, what have been conversations like?

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: I have often met with the Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari in recent years. He was also recently in Germany as my guest at the International Aviation Exhibition in Berlin. Of course, I also talked to him about future opportunities for collaboration. We don't want our visit to be a one-off.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India, German air cooperation in the Indo Pacific?

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: India is one of our most important partners in the region and the most significant. We have a great interest in intensifying this partnership together with the Indian Air Force.

Sidhant Sibal: Your take on India's Tejas?

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: I myself had the opportunity to fly in a Tejas during Tarang Shakti. A great experience. The Indian Air Force is probably the most diverse in the world and that's a great thing.

Sidhant Sibal: There is a war in Europe, the Russia Ukraine war, what are your assessments? How has it changed the security for the continent

German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz: My three most important takeaways from the war against Ukraine are: 1. Protecting the population with an effective air defense system saves lives and is essential. 2. no war can be won without a functioning command and control system and 3. the warehouses must be filled. Ammunition and supplies must be available in sufficient quantities.