RI, U.S. hold joint naval exercises

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy is to launch a joint exercise with its American counterpart in waters around Bali and East Java beginning today.

The Indonesian Navy will deploy a corvette, KRI Fatahilah while the U.S. Navy will use two ships, USS Reuben James and USS Camden during the four-day drill, according to the Antara news agency quoting a statement from the Navy's information section.

Code-named Indonusa 20/94, the exercise will be launched from Benoa in southern Bali today and the field exercise will take the ships to the Benoa Sea, the Bali Sea, and the Java Sea before winding up in Surabaya, capital of East Java.

This is the 20th time that the two navies have conducted joint exercises and, like the previous ones, it is intended to strengthen their relations, exchange knowledge and experience and test the capability of one another's skills.

The Indonesian Navy yesterday launched a joint exercise with its counterpart from Malaysia, this one involving 12 warships, with the waters of South China Sea facing both countries chosen as the location, according to the Navy statement.

The drill, code-named Malindo Jaya 15 AB/94, will last until July 28 and will cover the Java Sea, the Karimata Strait and into the South China Sea proper.

Indonesia deploys the warships KRI Yos Sudarso, KRI Ahmad Yani, KRI Mandau, KRI Pandrong, KRI Rupat and KRI Sungai Gerong. while Malaysia has sent KD Kasturi, KD Marikh, KD Perdama, KD Serang, KD Mahameru and KD Ledang for the exercise.

The exercise includes testing the anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine operations, mine and electronic wars, refurbishing supplies at sea and tactical maneuvers. (emb)