Indonesia, Thailand hold joint exercise ‘Elang Thainesia XVI’

SUMATRA (INDONESIA), June 23 (TNA) - Air forces of Indonesia and Thailand, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will from Monday conduct a 12-day joint exercise codenamed ‘Elang Thainesia XVI’ at the Indonesian Air Force’s Pekanbaru airbase on the Sumatra Island. A total of 35 pilots and officials of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) arrived at the Indonesian airbase on Sunday to participate in the joint exercise, aimed at enhancing cooperation and good relations between the two Southeast Asian nations. The RTAF will assign 99 of its officers plus four Alphajet fighter planes from its airbase in the northeastern province of Udon Thani to participate in the joint exercise, led by Group Captain Napadej Dhupatemiya, deputy director of Air Inspection Directorate of Operations. The Indonesian Air Force has assigned four Hawk 100/200 fighter aircraft and C-130s to the joint exercise. The official ceremony for commencing the joint exercise is scheduled to be held this Tuesday at the Indonesian airbase. (TNA)