"This exercise is very important to improve the capability of the two countries` naval forces."Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - As many as 2,074 personnel from the Indonesian and US navies participated in a joint exercise organised here on Wednesday by the Eastern Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Agung Pramono.
The inauguration of the 18th exercise of the Operation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) programme, scheduled to continue till June 7, was also attended by the Western Pacific Logistic Group Commander, Rear Admiral Tom Carney.
The Indonesian navy sent 1,244 personnel from various units to participate in the exercise, in addition to three warships, a Cassa plane, two helicopters and other combat equipment.
The US navy, meanwhile, contributed three warships that had berthed at Jamrud Pier at Surabaya`s Tanjung Perak port since Tuesday and 830 personnel.
The exercise will be conducted at several locations in East Java, including the Madura Strait, the Java Sea, the Juanda air base and Kareng Tekok in Situbondo for marine exercises, the Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters and the Surabaya Tanjung Perak port.
"This exercise is very important to improve the capability of the two countries` naval forces," remarked Rear Admiral Tom Carney after the opening ceremony.
He said that the types of exercises are intensified every year in order to further improve the capability of naval personnel.
"The joint exercise is also for deepening the relation between the Indonesian and US navies," he declared.
According to Tom Carney, CARAT is part of a series of bilateral military exercises between the US navy and its counterparts in Asia, such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and starting this year, Timor Leste.
Meanwhile, Agung Pramono stated that the Indonesian navy, in the last 18 years of exercises with the US navy under the CARAT programme, had learned a lot in terms of capability and knowledge regarding combat matters and sea security.
"We have also exchanged information and knowledge about various exercise matters such as marine capability, intelligence, sea security and aviation," he added.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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