Jakarta (ANTARA) – Pilots from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the US Army conducted joint night flight training as part of the massive Super Garuda Shield 2026 exercises.
Operating side-by-side in Boeing AH-64 Apache combat helicopters, the TNI and US Army pilots executed complex tactical maneuvers and target engagements under cover of darkness at the Indonesian Army Training Center in Martapura, South Sumatra, on Wednesday (September 2).
According to a press statement released Friday by the TNI Headquarters Information Center, the nocturnal exercise targeted low-light combat proficiency and joint operational capability.
Military officials confirmed the flight drills were completed smoothly without incident, adhering strictly to international flight safety protocols.
The night flight training is aimed at honing individual pilot proficiencies while fostering technical cooperation and tactical knowledge exchange between the two armed forces.
The 2026 iteration of Super Garuda Shield involves 4,743 personnel from 21 participating and observing countries, aimed at testing operational readiness, strengthening defense diplomacy, and improving joint responses to regional security challenges.
Speaking earlier in Bandung, West Java, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto detailed the expanding international scope of the training program, which encompasses 12 specialized defense topics.
“Super Garuda Shield is held annually in Indonesia. This year, 21 countries participated… covering 12 topics,” Gen. Subiyanto stated.
The multi-week multinational exercise spans major strategic hubs across the archipelago, including training areas in Jakarta, Bandung, Lampung, North Kalimantan’s Nunukan region, and the Baturaja combat center in South Sumatra.
Participating forces include troops and observers from Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam, and host nation Indonesia.
Super Garuda Shield 2026 is scheduled to formally conclude in Jakarta on September 11.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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