The mock terrorists hijacked the Casiopeia and planned to use it as a floating bomb to be detonated around the waters of Singapore and Indonesia during the Counter-Terrorism Field Training Exercise Griffin Cakti, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said in a press statement.

The joint exercise was held from Monday until Wednesday in the waters off Batam, Riau Islands.

Initial intelligence reports were acquired by the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and TNI’s First Fleet Command (Koarmada 1), which managed to detect a foreign suspicious vessel entering the waters on the Singapore-Indonesia border.

After receiving data on the terrorists’ strength from the Singaporean Information Fusion Center (IFC) and the TNI’s Maritime Information Center, both countries sent their warships to block the terrorists’ movements.

Special forces operatives from both countries were then inserted onto the LNG carrier using helicopters and rigid hull inflatable boats to take down the terrorists.

Chief of the Singaporean Defense Forces Vice Adm. Aaron Beng and TNI commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto witnessed the joint exercise in the waters off Batam on Wednesday.

“I appreciate the professionalism, spirit, discipline and camaraderie shown during the joint exercise, as well as the courage, strength and high-quality performances by both elite forces, who are ready to uphold the values of unity and collaboration,” Agus said, as quoted by the statement.

Meanwhile, Beng said that terrorism remained a threat that confronts both countries.

“We are close neighbors and close cooperation between us allows us to better respond to this threat. Today’s exercise is part of our shared commitment to continue to build interoperability between our armed forces,” he said, as quoted by a statement issued by the Singaporean Defense Ministry

“We are very satisfied with the conduct of the Counter-Terrorism Field Training Exercise and we are discussing further opportunities to deepen and strengthen our defense ties.”

The exercise involved approximately 160 personnel from both countries, consisting of elements from naval, air, cyber and special operations units.

 

Indopura joint exercises

In a separate development, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Indonesian Air Force conducted the Elang Indopura XXIII/25 exercise at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Riau, on May 14-23, the Air Force said in a press statement.

RSAF Air Combat commander Brig. Gen. Lim Kok Hong and the Air Force’s Air Operations Command (Koopsud) I commander Air Cdre. Muzafar officially closed the exercise, which involved various training missions, such as bombing and air refueling.

The bombing marked the start of the joint exercise in an air-to-ground attack scenario to improve interoperability between both air forces.

On May 16, F-16 C/D jet fighters from the Air Force’s 16th Squadron conducted an air-to-air refueling exercise with an Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RSAF’s 112th Squadron.

Another joint exercise, Manyar Indopura is scheduled be held on Sept. 15-26 for helicopter units from both air forces. (nvn)