Australia Gifts 4 C-130 Aicraft To Indonesia

In an effort to help Indonesia respond better to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, Australia has gifted four C-130 heavylift transport aircraft to the Indonesian Government.

The two countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the transfer of four Australian Defence Force C-130 Hercules aircraft to Indonesia, following the Prime Minister’s offer in November of last year to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to transfer up to four aircraft to the country.

Indonesia will fund all refurbishment and ongoing maintenance costs associated with the aircraft.

Australia's gift comes as an effort to build bilateral Australia-Indonesia ties and close relations between the Australian and Indonesian Defence forces.

Minister Purnomo and Minister Smith also held bilateral talks at Headquarters Northern Command, located at Larrakeyah Army Base in Darwin.

The discussions focused on bilateral defence engagement and the critical role Indonesia and Australia play together in contributing to regional security and addressing global challenges.

Australia and Indonesia are also working to bolster coordination on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief through the East Asia Summit framework.

Source :http://www.defenseworld.net/

Indonesia To Buy German Tanks, Cancels Dutch Deal

Indonesia today announced its decision to buy 100 battle tanks from Germany after pulling out of a deal that was earlier awarded to Netherlands. The decision to cancel the $280 million contract comes after spending several months awaiting approval from the Dutch parliament.

"We are disappointed because we were serious in wanting to buy the Dutch tanks," defence ministry spokesman Hartind Asrin was quoted as saying. "We had gone to the warehouse to look at them and they were good. The price was also right, at around US$280 million".

"The Dutch government was agreeable to the deal, but the Dutch parliament kept us waiting. There was still no approval after eight to nine months of waiting, so last week we called off the deal," he said.

Asrin also added that 14 units are expected to arrive from Germany by the end of this year.

Indonesia has earmarked 99 trillion rupiah (S$13 billion) from 2010 to 2014 to modernise its defense systems, according to local media reports quoting National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana. One third of the budget has been set aside for maintenance with the remaining two thirds for purchasing defense systems and weapons, she was quoted as saying.
Source :http://www.defenseworld.net

US and Indonesian air forces conduct Cope West 2012

The US Air Force (USAF) is conducting a joint tactical airlift exercise, called Cope West 2012, with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in east Jakarta, Indonesia.

Throughout the exercise, which began on 25 June, a total of 80 US and 75 Indonesian airmen will exchange ideas related to airlift, air-land and airdrop missions, night and static flights and packing techniques.

The USAF has deployed three C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft, while Indonesia is participating with a single C-130 airlifter in the exercise.

Halim's 1st Wing commander colonel Ardhi Tjahjoko was quoted by Antara News as saying that the two sides carried out a parachute dropping static and personnel to the Air Force Detachment in Gorda Serang, on the first day of the exercise.

CW12 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan mission commander and US Air Force captain John Chrampanis said: "We hope all the months of planning leading up to today result in a successful and safe exercise as we advance our partnership between the US and Indonesian Air Forces."

The combined training offered by CW12 is expected to prepare the two air forces to work jointly in offering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, eventually promoting a peaceful Pacific region.

Conducted since 2009, the Cope West exercises aim to improve interoperability between the two nations.

Source :http://www.airforce-technology.com

US and Indonesian air forces conduct Cope West 2012

The US Air Force (USAF) is conducting a joint tactical airlift exercise, called Cope West 2012, with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in east Jakarta, Indonesia.

Throughout the exercise, which began on 25 June, a total of 80 US and 75 Indonesian airmen will exchange ideas related to airlift, air-land and airdrop missions, night and static flights and packing techniques.

The USAF has deployed three C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft, while Indonesia is participating with a single C-130 airlifter in the exercise.

Halim's 1st Wing commander colonel Ardhi Tjahjoko was quoted by Antara News as saying that the two sides carried out a parachute dropping static and personnel to the Air Force Detachment in Gorda Serang, on the first day of the exercise.

CW12 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan mission commander and US Air Force captain John Chrampanis said: "We hope all the months of planning leading up to today result in a successful and safe exercise as we advance our partnership between the US and Indonesian Air Forces."

The combined training offered by CW12 is expected to prepare the two air forces to work jointly in offering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, eventually promoting a peaceful Pacific region.

Conducted since 2009, the Cope West exercises aim to improve interoperability between the two nations.

Source :http://www.airforce-technology.com