Joint Exercise TNI-AU-USPACAF Interoperability Bomber Landing 2023

The arrival of the B-52 bomber aircraft to Indonesia in the context of the Joint Exercise TNI AU-USPACAF Interoperability Bomber Landing 2023 between the TNI Air Force and the USAF

For the first time in history, two United States B-52 bombers landed in Indonesia on June 19 to carry out training exercises with Indonesian Air Force F-16 aircraft.

The landing at Kualanamu Airport in Medan and subsequent operations marked the first time US B-52s operated in Indonesia.

The aircraft, which came from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (23EBS) at Minot Air Base in North Dakota, participated in a joint interoperability landing exercise with the Indonesian Air Force and US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

Sixty 23EBS crew members were involved in this joint bomber landing exercise in the context of Cope West 2023, which is a bilateral exercise that is taking place at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Pekanbaru, on June 12–23.

Personnel from the US and Indonesia will train tactical combat capabilities, evaluate proficiency, identify future training opportunities, and enhance capabilities integral to a variety of bilateral missions.

Cope West is a routine exercise that was first held in 1989.

This is the 10th year that Cope West has been held in Indonesia.

Coordinating with other components, allies, and partners, the Pacific Air Forces provide unmatched capabilities in air, space, and cyber on an ongoing basis for US Indo-Pacific Command to uphold the rules-based international order and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.