Yudhoyono to observe Yudha Siaga joint exercise

Antara ,  Sangatta, East Kalimantan   |  Sun, 06/15/2008 4:26 PM  |  National

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set Sunday to observe the last stage of the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s joint exercise in Sangatta, East Kalimantan.

Yudhoyono will be accompanied by TNI chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and chiefs of staffs of Air Force, Army and Navy at the floating hospital KRI Soeharso-990 in observing the joint exercise, code named Yudha Siaga.

The exercise will start in the afternoon with a sea combat exercise involving 340 warships of various types and sizes as well as six helicopters and five fighters.

Later on in the evening, the president will observe an air combat exercise involving American-made F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-5E/F Tigers, Russian made Su-27SK and Su-30-MK as well as British made Hawk 109/209s.

The exercise in Sangatta will also involve airborne, amphibious and joint land operations.

Started on June 8, the exercise take place in four different places in Batam and Natuna in Riau Islands; Singkawang in West Kalimantan and Singkawang in East Kalimantan.

The exercise plots that a fictious country of Sonora launches an invasion to a number of Indonesia's outlying territories.

With the consent of the House of Representatives, the president established a joint task command to reclaim those areas.

In Natuna, TNI launched airborne, amphibious and air operations while in Batam a special operation was carried out involving special force soldiers from the three services. Singkawang saw air attack and joint land operations.

More than 30,000 soldiers from Air Force, Army and Navy take part in TNI's first joint exercise since 1996. (****)

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