Indo-German naval exercise begins today

A three-day Indo-German naval exercise will begin on Tuesday, on the western coast of India.

The two countries signed a defense cooperation agreement in 2006. From the German side, the exercises will see the participation of over 700 personnel from the German Task Force comprising the Federal German Ship (FGS) Hamburg, an air-defense ship; frigate FGS Koeln; and a replenishment tanker FGS Berlin. The vessels arrived in Kochi, a major port city of the south on Saturday. Two frigates of the Indian Navy, apart from a helicopter and training ships — INS Tir and INS Krishna — will represent India. The Task Force Commander, Captain Michael Budde, said the German and Indian warships from the naval base would jointly leave the Kochi harbor on Tuesday for the joint exercises. “Seamanship, replenishment at sea and exchange of ship personnel and flying exercises will be held in the sea off Kochi. More advanced maneuvers like surface and submarine warfare will be held further northwards, where the Indian frigates from the Western Naval Command will join.” India will get top-end technology and it will be a win-win situation for both countries in this partnership of equals. Germany needs to retain her competitive edge by making good use of the economy products manufactured in India. Rear Admiral Karl Wilhelm Bollow, Commander of Germany’s Flotilla II, who came to Kochi to inspect his units, said the Germans would also hold joint operations with the French and South African navies.

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