RI, US air forces hold joint military exercises in Bandung

The United States Air Force (USAF) has flown in two Hercules MC-130 H transport aircraft for a two-week joint military exercise with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) in Bandung.

Code named Teak 10-2, the war games will take place at Husein Sastranegara and Sulaeman air bases in Bandung, West Java.

As many as 110 personnel from the USAF 353rd Special Operation Group, based in Kadena, Japan, and Special Tactics Squadron 320, will be involved in the exchange of knowledge and strategic air tactics with 152 members of the TNI AU Special Unit and representatives of the 31st and 32nd Air Squadrons based at Halim Perdanakusumah and Abdulrahman Saleh air bases, in Jakarta and Malang, East Java.

USAF Mission Commander Maj. Richard Gunn said the exercise would help bolster relations between the TNI AU and the USAF.

“It is very important for us to be here to help restore the relationship after a long break,” Gunn told reporters after the opening ceremony at Husein Sastranegara Air Base in Bandung on Monday.

Training director and Husein Sastranegara Air Base Commander Col. Asep Adang said the exercise was the fourth carried out by both sides in the past four years. The exchange in experience and tactical knowledge of the USAF air operations is expected to be able to provide humanitarian and rescue operational know-how in Indonesia’s disaster-prone areas.

“They are more experienced in night-time air drops carried out at higher altitudes. Perhaps, we
can benefit from this to strengthen our troops, especially in carrying out their humanitarian duties,”
Adang said.

Halim Perdanakusumah Air Base operational head witness Maj. Eko Sujatmiko said an improvement had been noticed in the sky-diving and free fall simulations by members of the TNI AU Special Unit, especially when infiltrating a target area. The flight simulation will be conducted at the Husein Sastranegara Air Base, while the Sulaeman Air Base will function as the drop zone.

The TNI AU-USAF joint exercise is expected to be held annually over the next three years.