TNI to Hold Biggest Military Exercise in 2014

Sangatta (Antara Bali) - The National Defense Force (TNI) will hold the biggest-ever military exercise next year, TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono said.

Next year the country will have two military exercises, namely fast reaction force (PPRC) exercise at battalion level and a joint combat exercise involving the Army, Navy and Air Force as the last activity of the second United Indonesia Cabinet, he said here on Thursday.

"The most complete and biggest-ever exercise will be held late September or early October to demonstrate all of the military's main armament systems procured by the Defense Ministry and the TNI," he said.      
   
The TNI will demonstrate the capability of the entire military equipment and combat force as a form of the government's and the TNI's responsibilities to the people, he said.

Because 2014 is the final year of the second United Indonesia Cabinet's tasks, one of the activities which are high on the TNI's agenda is demonstrating all military development programs next year, he said.

Of course, all of the programs to build minimum main forces will not have been completed by 2014 as the programs will last until 2024. However, nearly 20 percent of them will have been completed by 2014, he said. (*/DWA)