ASEAN, Russia Hold First Joint Naval Exercises Off Coast of Indonesia’s Sumatera

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Russia and Southeast Asian countries held their first joint naval drills 2021 ASEAN-Russia Naval Exercise (ARNEX-21) in the territorial waters of Indonesia from November 28 to December 4.

Under the theme Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Maritime Economic Activity and Civil Navigations, the one-week military exercises will involve the harbor phase and sea phase from Belawan to Sabang waters in Sumatra.

Officiating the event was the Indonesian first fleet commander Arsyad Abdullah at the main naval base (Lantamal) I in Belawan, North Sumatra on Wednesday, December 1.

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Also present during the opening ceremony were Russia’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Russia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN defense attachés, officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, and commander of the main naval base (Lantamal) I in Belawan Commodore Achmad Wibisono.

“The joint naval exercises aim to maintain friendship among the Indonesian government, ASEAN member states, and Russia,” said a statement issued by the Indonesian Navy Information Service (Dispenal).

The exercises also aim to enhance the interoperability of the Russian and ASEAN militaries. The drills involve frigate ships, warships, and military aircraft. These, among others, include the KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332 warship, RFS Admiral Penteleyev, Brunei’s patrol vessel KDB Daruttaqwa, Singapore’s RSS Vigour, CN-235 plane, KAMOV helicopter, and Panther helicopter.

The training includes Sea Surveillance Exercise, Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO), Search and Rescue Exercise (Sarex) as well as several maneuvers, and non-war fighting such as publications and communications activities.

(Writer: Achmad Nasrudin Yahya | Editor: Dani Prabowo)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/12/02/07300121/kapal-perang-tni-al-dan-asean-latihan-bersama-dengan-rusia-di-belawan-hingga.