"We have sent four F-16s to participate in the exercise," commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto told newsmen here on Wednesday.
He was at the El Tari airbase here for an hour before departing to Australia for a high-level meeting.
"I am travelling to Australia not because of the exercise but to attend a high-level meeting, which is an annual meeting between Indonesia and Australia," he remarked.
Various issues from logistics to personnel, intelligence, and other security-related matters would be discussed at the meeting.
Regarding the two-yearly exercise, he hoped Indonesian forces would gain good results.
A number of aircraft has already left for Darwin to prepare before being involved in the exercise on Monday, which is attended by 16 countries.
The four F-16s are from Squadron 3 at Iswahyudi airbase in Madiun, East Java.
Reported by Kornelis Aloysius Ileama Kaha
(H-YH/INE)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/C/E002)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
