In a press release from the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) cited here on Tuesday, the ministry said the Japanese fleet comprises three CH-47 Chinook helicopters currently en route aboard the Japanese tank landing ship JS Kunisaki. The helicopters are expected to arrive in West Kalimantan on Sept. 9.
“If all stages proceed according to plan, the Japanese helicopters are set to be used in fire-containment operations from Sept. 12 to 19, 2026,” Defense Ministry Secretary-General Lieutenant General Tri Budi Utomo said.
He assured the public that the deployment of the Japanese helicopters would not diminish the Indonesian government’s leading role in preventing and suppressing forest and land fires.
The assistance, he added, is part of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) signed by Indonesia and Japan on May 4, 2026.
Utomo explained that the DCA covers bilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
“In short, we will continue to exert all national capabilities. The Japanese assistance will be integrated into all wildfire response operations carried out by the Indonesian government,” he said.
The Indonesian government has also granted operational permits to 35 foreign-registered aircraft to support wildfire containment efforts in several regions across Kalimantan Island.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said in Jakarta on Sept. 1 that the decision was intended to help regional governments address shortages of specialized firefighting equipment as they tackle wildfires in priority areas.
The aircraft consist predominantly of heavy-lift helicopters capable of conducting precision water-bombing operations in remote areas, he added. They are registered in Australia, Russia, the United States, Ukraine, New Zealand, Laos, Vietnam, and Canada.
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Translator: W. Marison, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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