RI joins Assie defense exercise<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (AFP): Airborne troops of Indonesia's Strategic
\nReserve Force (Kostrad) arrived yesterday to join Australian
\nparatroopers for an army exercise later this month as efforts
\naccelerate to strengthen defense links between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Exercise Swift Canopy is also aimed at helping both sides to
\nassess differences in communications, including language
\nbarriers, parachute safety and operating procedures.<\/p>\n
The 30 Kostrad troops, who are part of Indonesia's main strike
\nforce, will join soldiers of Australia's airborne Third Battalion
\nand 8th\/12th Medium Regiment of artillery at the Shoalwater Bay
\nTraining Area in Queensland.<\/p>\n
Defense Force spokesman, Brig. Adrian D'Hage said the exercise
\nwould provide lead-up training for the Indonesians before the
\nmajor Australian tri-service Exercise Kangaroo 95 in the tropical
\nNorthern Territory in August.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will contribute several hundred troops to that
\nexercise, joining forces from Australia, the United States and
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
D'Hage said Swift Canopy would practice conventional ground
\noperations, adding: \"It's all part of moves toward more exercises
\nwith the Indonesians.<\/p>\n
\"We would like to operate with them and they with us so we can
\nfamiliarize ourselves with each other's equipment.<\/p>\n
\"The combined parachute battalion group exercise will involve
\nan airborne insertion of parachutists, securing of a landing zone
\nand strikes by RAAF F-111 aircraft.\"<\/p>\n
Relations between the defense forces of the two countries have
\nsteadily improved since the late 1980s, with regular air force,
\nnavy and now army exercises scheduled.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-joins-assie-defense-exercise-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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