Australian-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol

A closing ceremony was held today at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin Naval Base, to mark the successful completion of the inaugural Coordinated Maritime Security Patrol by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Indonesian Armed Forces in the waters between Australia and Indonesia during the period 16-27 April 2010.

The combined operation was conducted to improve coordinated maritime security between the ADF and Indonesian Armed Forces along the Australian and Indonesian shared maritime boundaries to the south of West Timor.

“Over the past eleven days, Australia and Indonesia have been operating at sea, on land and in the air together, for the first time, to address shared maritime security threats along our exclusive economic zone boundaries,” said Commodore David Gwyther, the Commander Northern Command and Officer in charge of the ADF Task Group. “It sends a message to those who may contemplate conducting illegal activities in our maritime zones that the Indonesian Armed Forces and the ADF are working together - so beware” he said.

Each Defence Force contributed maritime patrol aircraft, naval vessels and headquarters staffs to two coordinated and synchronised task groups. These assets included HMA Ships Maryborough and Albany and an AP-3C Orion from the ADF, and corvettes KRI Wiratno and Hasan Basri and an NC-212 aircraft from the Indonesian Armed Forces.

As well as coordinated enforcement operations, the patrol included information sharing, interoperability and search and rescue exercises designed to build confidence and improve combined operational performance on the water and in the air.

“Our Defence Forces made great progress in improving our communications, information sharing techniques and maritime security interoperability. It has been a very successful activity and a great step forward in the military to military relationship between our nations,” said Commodore Widodo, the Indonesian Eastern Fleet Sea Combat Commander.

Indonesia and Australia continue to work closely together to address shared maritime security threats along our maritime boundaries. Given the success of this inaugural patrol, the ADF and Indonesian Armed Forces will be planning future Coordinated Maritime Security Patrols and further cooperation on maritime security issues.

Imagery is available at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Apr/20100427/index.htm

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175