The Indonesian Navy Deploys 6 KRIs, 2 Serang Helicopters And Sea Riders To Guard The ASEAN Summit

Indonesian Navy soldiers participated in the training session for the readiness to secure the 43rd ASEAN Summit in the waters around Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Monday (4/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Puspen TNI)

The Indonesian Navy, which is part of the Sea Task Force, deployed six warships, two attack helicopters, and two fast patrol boats (sea riders) to secure the sea area around the location of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta.

The six warships of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) guarded the waters in the Jakarta Bay area and around Banten during the ASEAN 43rd Summit series from 5 to 7 September 2023.

"The Indonesian Navy has prepared warships that are alerted in the waters of the Jakarta Banten sector, namely KRI John Lie-358 (JOL), KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367 (SIM), KRI Barakuda-814 (BKD), KRI Kerambit-627 (KRB), KRI Wiratno-379 (WIR), and KRI dr. Rajiman Widyodiningrat-992 (RJW), two units of Panther type attack helicopters (HS), and two sea riders (RHIB), "said the TNI Information Center in its official broadcast as confirmed by the Head of the Media Center Puspen TNI as the Information Subatgas Commander Colonel Arh. Budyanto Sudarsono was reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 4.

He explained that the two units of the sea rider were manned by elite Indonesian Navy troops from the Frog Troop Command (Kopaska). Meanwhile, the number of Indonesian Navy soldiers involved in the Sea Task Force was 919 people.

From the ranks of warships, KRI dr. Rajiman Widyodiningrat-992 also carries out its function as a hospital whose services and facilities are equivalent to type-B hospitals.

"This ship can handle (patients) if there are Summit participants or security personnel who are sick or require medical treatment," said Colonel Budyanto.

He continued that the warships deployed along with two Panther-type attack helicopters and two sea riders generally function not only to guard water areas, but also to search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, and evacuation of VVIP.

Therefore, the ASEAN 43rd Sea Task Force of the Summit held an emergency evacuation readiness exercise whose route used sea lanes. The exercise took place on Monday in several places, including JICT Tanjung Priok and the Military Cross-Navy Command Headquarters Post (Kolinlamil).

In the exercise, the route prepared for sea evacuation is from the event location to KRI Iskandar Muda-367 using a helicopter, then for state guests who need medical assistance they will be transported and delivered to KRI RJW-992.

"The exercise is to ensure the readiness of personnel and material in carrying out the task of securing the 43rd ASEAN VVIP Summit," said Head of the Media Center Puspen TNI.

In the ASEAN 43rd Summit series, state guests who attended were not only from ASEAN member countries, but also partner countries, invited countries, observer countries (observers), as well as leaders of international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank. World Bank), the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum.

Several state leaders who have arrived in Jakarta until Monday evening, namely the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, the Prime Minister of Timor Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, the Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, the Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Sryptone, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and the President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos.