Three Chinook Helicopters End Forest Fire Suppression Operations in Kalimantan

The Japanese government ended the operation of three CH-47 Chinook helicopters for the suppression of forest and land fires (karhutla) in West Kalimantan Province on Tuesday (29/09/2026). These three jumbo helicopters have been deployed to handle forest fires over the past two weeks.

The cessation of operations was carried out following an order from the Japanese Ministry of Defence to end the fire suppression assistance in the Kalimantan region. The decision to end the assistance was made by the Japanese Minister of Defence, Shinjiro Koizumi, on Tuesday.

According to Koizumi, personnel from the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) have assisted in preventing the spread of the forest fires. During the operation, he added, the three Chinook helicopters performed 40 aerial operations, dropping more than 220 tonnes of water.