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Japan Sends Helicopters to Indonesia for Wildfire Response
(MENAFN) Japan has launched its first overseas firefighting deployment, sending three CH-47 helicopters to Indonesia as part of efforts to combat widespread wildfires.
The Kunisaki, an 8,900-ton Osumi-class transport vessel carrying the helicopters and around 350 personnel, reached Kijing Port in West Kalimantan on Thursday.
Beginning Sunday, the Japanese helicopters are expected to assist Indonesian military forces with aerial firefighting operations for approximately one week. The CH-47 aircraft will collect water from rivers, carrying roughly five tons during each flight before releasing it over areas affected by the fires.
"We will make every effort" to execute the mission to help the victims, a Japanese Defense Ministry official said.
Wildfires that spread across Indonesia between January and July have destroyed around 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles) of forests and peatland. Several fires remain active, prompting the Indonesian military to continue aerial efforts to contain them.
Japan’s deployment follows a defense cooperation agreement reached in May between Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The agreement expands bilateral cooperation in areas including joint exercises and disaster relief.
Separately, Japan has sent fighter aircraft from its Air Self-Defense Force to India for the first time as part of expanding defense exchanges between the two countries.
The Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force began the bilateral "Veer Guardian-2026" air exercise on Wednesday. The drills are scheduled to continue through September at Air Force Station Jodhpur in western India.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described Japan’s first such visit as a “significant milestone” for the India-Japan defense partnership in a social media post.
"I am deeply encouraged to see that Japan-India defense cooperation is steadily developing through the accumulation of exchanges and joint training between frontline units," said Koizumi in a separate post.
The Kunisaki, an 8,900-ton Osumi-class transport vessel carrying the helicopters and around 350 personnel, reached Kijing Port in West Kalimantan on Thursday.
Beginning Sunday, the Japanese helicopters are expected to assist Indonesian military forces with aerial firefighting operations for approximately one week. The CH-47 aircraft will collect water from rivers, carrying roughly five tons during each flight before releasing it over areas affected by the fires.
"We will make every effort" to execute the mission to help the victims, a Japanese Defense Ministry official said.
Wildfires that spread across Indonesia between January and July have destroyed around 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles) of forests and peatland. Several fires remain active, prompting the Indonesian military to continue aerial efforts to contain them.
Japan’s deployment follows a defense cooperation agreement reached in May between Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The agreement expands bilateral cooperation in areas including joint exercises and disaster relief.
Separately, Japan has sent fighter aircraft from its Air Self-Defense Force to India for the first time as part of expanding defense exchanges between the two countries.
The Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force began the bilateral "Veer Guardian-2026" air exercise on Wednesday. The drills are scheduled to continue through September at Air Force Station Jodhpur in western India.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described Japan’s first such visit as a “significant milestone” for the India-Japan defense partnership in a social media post.
"I am deeply encouraged to see that Japan-India defense cooperation is steadily developing through the accumulation of exchanges and joint training between frontline units," said Koizumi in a separate post.
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