Singapore and Indonesia Successfully Conclude 20th Edition of Bilateral Air Exercise

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s F-16C and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU)'s F-16A/B and Hawk 109/209 flying in formation during Exercise Elang Indopura 2018.

Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Yuyu Sutisna co-officiated at the closing ceremony of Exercise Elang Indopura at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Indonesia earlier today.

The exercise comprised two phases – a Command Post Exercise, which was held at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, from 7 to 9 November 2018 and an Air Manoeuvring Exercise, which was conducted at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base from 4 to 17 December 2018. More than 150 personnel from both air forces participated in the exercise, along with a total of 16 fighter aircraft including the RSAF's F-16C and the TNI AU's F-16A/B and Hawk 109/209.

MG Mervyn Tan commented on the significance of the exercise, saying "This year marks the 20th edition of Exercise Elang Indopura since it was inaugurated in 1980. Over this period, we have gone from flying the F-86 Sabre and Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft in simple missions to employing our Hawks and F-16s together in complex scenarios. It is truly heartening to see how much we have grown together and how far we have come."

Exercise Elang Indopura serves as an excellent platform to enhance the professionalism and interoperability between the two Air Forces. This bilateral exercise underscores the close and long-standing bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia. In addition to bilateral exercises, the RSAF and TNI AU also engage regularly in a broad spectrum of activities, which include cross-attendance of courses, professional exchanges and reciprocal visits.

The RSAF's F-16C and TNI AU's Hawk 209 participating in a mission during Exercise Elang Indopura 2018.

The RSAF's Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan and TNI AU's Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Yuyu Sutisna reviewing the parade during the closing ceremony of Exercise Elang Indopura 2018 at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Indonesia earlier today.

RSAF and TNI AU personnel conducting mission planning together before the flight. (Photo courtesy of TNI AU)