Key Points
- Indonesia has increased the complexity of an annual naval exercise and staging it near disputed waters
- Exercise is being conducted against the backdrop of rising maritime tensions in the region
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL – Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut) has deployed five surface combatants, an auxiliary support vessel, and a maritime patrol aircraft to the Natuna islands region for a 12-day naval exercise near disputed waters of the South China Sea.
A representative from the TNI-AL’s Western Fleet’s (KOARMABAR’s) office of public affairs told IHS Jane’s on 16 June that the deployment represents one of the service’s largest ever dispatch of naval assets to Natuna in recent years.
Vessels deployed in the exercise, which is taking place from 9-20 June, are namely the Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvettes KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin (376), KRI Sutanto (377), KRI Imam Bonjol (383), and KRI Teuku Umar (385), the service’s lead Todak-class missile attack craft (631), and its coastal tanker KRI Balikpapan(901). Also deployed in the exercise is a CN-235-220 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).
“The exercise is a yearly event and the last time this was done in Natuna was in 2012, but that iteration only involved naval vessels,” said the KOARMABAR representative who added that the 2016 edition marks the first time that the series is featuring an MPA.
“The exercise is more complex this year and have been designed to ensure that our vessels and aircraft can perform in a synchronised manner under various exercise scenarios given,” said the representative who added that these include surface warfare drills, escort movements, and search-and-rescue operations.
IHS Jane’s 360: IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly – Digital, Online and Print Magazine
from DefenseNewz.com http://ift.tt/28IBI90
via Defense News
No comments: