Japan Sends 3 CH-47 Helicopters to Help Extinguish Forest Fires in Kalimantan

Japanese authorities, through the Ministry of Defence (JMOD) and the Self-Defence Forces (JSDF), are sending three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Indonesia. The three helicopters will be used to assist in forest and land fire suppression operations in Kalimantan.

This was announced via the official JMOD Instagram account on Friday, 28 August 2026.

“In response to the severe damage caused by forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, Japan has decided to support firefighting operations by deploying Self-Defence Forces helicopters. This assistance is provided at the request of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia as part of international disaster relief activities,” JMOD wrote, as quoted on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

The three helicopters are being transported aboard the JSDF vessel JS Kunisaki.

“The Ministry of Defence and the Self-Defence Forces will deploy the JS Kunisaki, carrying three CH-47 helicopters belonging to the Ground Self-Defence Force, to Indonesia as soon as all preparations are complete,” the account stated.

Meanwhile, according to the Japan Times on Saturday, 29 August 2026, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stressed that Japan will make every effort to help prevent the spread of damage caused by the forest fires.

Separately, the Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said in a virtual press conference broadcast on BNPB’s YouTube channel on Saturday, 29 August 2026, that the CH-47 Chinook helicopters will be used for water bombing missions on 10 September 2026.

Amid the ongoing forest fire response, Berton also urged the public not to burn rubbish, not to discard cigarette butts carelessly, and not to play with fire in areas with very dry vegetation to prevent fires from starting.