Commanders take part in five-aircraft patrol
Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, chief of staff of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), and Major General Kelvin Fan, chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), participated in Wednesday's flight, Antara reported. Indonesia contributed two F-16s and Singapore three, according to a November 5 press release from TNI AU Information Service head Air Commodore Feri Yunaldi.
Antara identified the mission as part of Operation Indopura Sakti-26, aimed at reinforcing the countries' shared commitment to regional stability.
Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the first joint fighter patrol ran November 3-4 under the inaugural Patkor Indopura, or coordinated patrol. The ministry described it as an expression of both services' commitment to protecting their borders from transnational terrorism threats.
The operation included joint briefings and practice of standing operating procedures, MINDEF said. Aircraft from the two services also patrolled together along the Singapore-Indonesia border.
Building on existing defense cooperation
Yunaldi said the patrol offered a chance to deepen air defense ties between Indonesia and Singapore. He also voiced hope for broader defense cooperation between their air forces.
The two services already train together regularly through Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Camar Indopura and Exercise Manyar Indopura, according to MINDEF. Their other exchanges include senior-level visits, professional exchanges and attendance at each other's courses.
Lianhe Zaobao reported that Exercise Elang Indopura has taken place every two years since 1980. For its 45th anniversary in 2025, the two air forces trained in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, carrying out aerial refueling and joint air-to-ground training.
F-16 fleets
The specialist outlet MILMAG lists Indonesia's fleet as 23 F-16C/D Block 52RI aircraft and 10 F-16A Block 15 OCU aircraft. Singapore operates 59 F-16C/D/D+ Block 52+ aircraft, according to the outlet, which reported that both countries' fleets are undergoing modernization.
