JAKARTA — The Indonesian military has conducted a series of joint exercises focused on aircraft carrier operations ahead of the arrival of Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, which is set to be renamed KRI Gajah Mada.
The integrated exercise between the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), Navy (TNI AL), and Air Force (TNI AU) took place from August 25 to August 26, according to the press statement from the Indonesian Air Force.
The ship boarding operation (SBO) exercise was also organized as preparation for the aircraft carrier’s handover ceremony and naval parade, the Aug 28 statement said.
Analysts have said that the flight-deck preparations reveal Jakarta’s strategic transition towards a full spectrum blue-water naval capability, expeditionary operations, and greater power projection in the archipelago.
Air Force spokesperson First Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana said that TNI AU deployed H-3218 helicopters from the 6th Air Squadron for the exercise, which started with ground school courses at the 400th Air Squadron of the Indonesian Navy Aviation Center (Puspenerbal).
The ground course was organised to “brief the pilots about the procedures, techniques, and safety aspects in operating helicopters aboard the military ship,” he was quoted as saying.
After the first course, the exercise continued with takeoff and landing practices with a helideck simulator and a flight deck replica of ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. “The exercise builds preparedness among the pilots before landing the military planes on the real ship,” Suadnyana said.
Following the simulation on land, the pilots continued with the takeoff and landing exercise aboard KRI Makassar, stationed at Batoe Poron dock on Madura Island, East Java.
All phases of the exercise proceeded smoothly, he said, adding that the training is expected to familiarize military pilots with operating military aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier. “The shipboard operation practice reflected TNI AU’s readiness to support integrated joint operations as demanded by our duty in the future,” he remarked.
The Southeast Asian country’s news agency Antara had earlier reported that Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali confirmed that Indonesia expects to welcome its first aircraft carrier in September, adding that the ship will be officially renamed upon its arrival.
“Its name is still ITS Garibaldi for the time being, bearing the Italian ensign. However, the vessel will switch to Indonesia’s red-white flag and be renamed KRI Gajah Mada once it has arrived here,” Adm Muhammad Ali said. – GDA (Photo credit Italian Navy)
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