The Indonesian Navy Welcomes Singapore Warships Ahead Of Joint Exercises In Batam

Lantamal IV Batam welcomes the arrival of the Singapore warship RSS Vigour-92 ahead of military exercises with Indonesia-Singapore at Batu Ampar Port, Monday (21/8). (ANTARA/HO-Humas Lantamal IV Batam)

BATAM - The Indonesian Navy (AL) welcomes the arrival of the Singapore warship RSS Vigour-92 ahead of military exercises with Indonesia-Singapore, Executive Eagle Indipura2023 (XEI-23) at Batu Ampar Port, Batam City, Riau Islands.

"Today we welcome the arrival of warships belonging to Singapore, namely the warship RSS Vigour-92 at Batu Ampar Port. Their arrival is in the context of joint training in Batam and Bintan waters which began on Tuesday (22/8)," said Danlantamal IV Batam First Admiral Tjatur Soniarto as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 21.

He explained that the Indipura Eagle 2023 exercise is the 27th exercise which is held every two years with the host alternating between Indonesia and Singapore.

The training activity starts on Tuesday (22/8). Starting from the opening ceremony with the training series divided into two stages, namely the land stage (harbour phase) for three days until Thursday (24/8), as well as the sea phase to Sunday (27/8).

The exercise, he said, was in order to increase military to military cooperation between the two countries, as well as a form of marine defense cooperation carried out by the Indonesian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) since 1974.

He said the two countries' Navy exercises involved several warships and aircraft.

"From Indonesia, there are two warships, namely KRI SIM-367, KRI HLS-630. We also involved two Indonesian Navy aircraft, namely the Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA CN-235) and the Panther Anti-Submarine Helicopter (AKS)," he said.

Meanwhile, from Singapore involved two warships RSSinterpid-69 and RSS Vigour-92 as well as one Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA 121 SQ) aircraft.