Navy plans exercise

SURABAYA: The navy is involving 9,850 troops and 47 warships in a war game code-named Armada Jaya XIX, which began yesterday and will last until Aug. 10.

Eighteen of the warships are renovated ships imported from Germany, deputy navy chief of operational affairs Rear Admiral Bambang Poerwadi said here yesterday.

"The exercise is the biggest ever. It is costing Rp 850 million (US$363,000) not including fuel," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Bambang said the exercise will also include one F-16 jet fighter.

The exercise is divided into two stages. Land war games will take place from July 12 to July 18 and sea war games from Aug. 2 to July 10, Bambang said. (pan)