Bilateral Aircraft Exercise Between U.S and Indonesia In Manado City

MANADO, ZONAUTARA.com – Indonesian Air Force will organize a joint exercise with the United State Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) at Sam Ratulangi Manado Air Base from 12 to 23 March 2018.

This exercise will be opened by the Deputy Assistant of Operations Kasma Marsma TNI Anang Nurhadi in a military ceremony at Base Ops of Sam Ratulangi Manado. Representatives from both countries, and the supporters of exercise. Besides being followed by military personnel, the exercises will also involve dozens of aircraft from both countries.

This exercise is divided into two types. The first exercise has codenamed “Cope West” is a two-state exercise using F-16 TNI AU fighter aircraft and F-16 aircraft from the US Air Force. Where, in this exercise simulation will be simulated joint operation between two countries in air operations.

Then, air combat manuver exercise. It is the simulation of air combat or Dog Fight between F-16 Air Force aircraft and F-16 aircraft from US Air Force. Both types of exercises will take place in North Sulawesi (North Sulawesi), one of the places are in Talaud Islands.

Next, the second exercise is codenamed “Spear Iron”. This exercise involves elements of the Pasukan Khusus (Paskhas) or Typical Troops of the Indonesian Air Force and the Combat Control Team (CCT) Special Force of the United States. These two Special Units are working together to undertake various training activities such as jumping, infiltration, Search and Rescue (SAR) combat, and evacuation.

This exercise will be conducted in Kakas Village, Minahasa Region. There will be performed in the night. Currently, the “Spear Iron” team is conducting ground school to discuss game scenarios and action scenarios at Graha Merdeka Kayuwatu Manado.

The Air Force Base under the command of Sam Ratulangi Air Base Colonel Navigation Insan Nanjaya was prepared as a supporting element of this exercise as the base operation of the “Cope West” and “Spear Iron” exercises. F-16 aircraft runway setup, logistical support, fuel, accommodation and transportation, and medical evacuation support. And as a leader in this joint exercise from the Air Force, namely Waasops Kasau, while from US PACAF, Colonel Gibson.

In addition to bilateral aircraft, this exercise also deployed elements of transport from the US Air Force, including C-17 Globe Master, Chinook Helicopters for infiltration operations and SAR Combat. C-110 Hercules, CN-295 and Super Puma Helicopters. The troops involved were Paskhas Battalion Commando 466 Makassar under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wendy Bahtiar, and Director of Training Command Wing 2 Paskhas Colonel Army Dicky Lukman.

Editor: Eva Aruperes