Indonesian Air Force Engages T-50 Golden Eagle for Training

Jayapura, Papua (Antara) - Indonesian Air Force has been operating the latest three T-50 Golden Eagle aircrafts at a training session "D-14 Perkasa" held by the Air Force Operations Command II in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The statement was made by the commander of Sentani Airfield, Jayapura, Papua, Colonel (Pilot) Oka Prawira here on Monday. The training mission is being centered at the National Air Defense Command Sector IV, Biak, Papua, Col. Oka said, adding that the air training operation is being held for five days, August 25-29, 2014, with Jayapura airfield as the supporting air base. He noted that while training, the three fighter planes will be supported by other Indonesian Air Force planes, namely Boeing 737-200 Surveillance and one carrier of C-130 Hercules. "Besides training, the three fighters and the two supporting planes will carry out patrol on Indonesia's outer air borders, as well as to show off the existence of the Air Force in the skies of Papua," Col. Oka noted. Meanwhile, the Commander of Squadron 5 Iswahyudi Airfield, Madiun, East Java, Lieutenant Colonel (Pilot) Wastum explained that the D-14 Perkasa training was a simulation of a scenario that unauthorized planes have entered Indonesia's airspaces. Then, the Sukhoi fighters, on standby in the Manuha Airfield, Biak, will intercept the enemy's planes. "The three fighters act as the unidentified enemy aircrafts that enter Papua region. The planes do not have security clearance, flight approval, and are potentially threatening. The enemy's three fighters and the two reconnaissance aircrafts will be intercepted by the three Sukhoi. The enemy's planes will be forced to land on Manuhua Airfield, Lt. Col. Wastum explained. (*)