IO – MoD Prabowo Subianto attended a commemoration ceremony for the 76th Anniversary of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on Tuesday (10/5/2021), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta; it was a private event
with strict health protocols in place.
Not only was the Anniversary celebrated at the Presidential Palace but also by the Forces units on duty, at home, abroad and everywhere, virtually.
The Minister encouraged the TNI and its soldiers to unite and strengthen the brotherhood of the nation to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
“I know they can maintain synergy and solidarity with society, by modeling exemplary attitudes,” he declared, as quoted from the Defense Ministry’s offcial Instagram account @kemhanri.
He further expressed his expectation for the Forces to abide by good behavior, taking the lead in positive activities. “Help the community sincerely and wholeheartedly, so even the most diffcult challenges can be overcome. Unite, fght, we will win,” he added.
The ceremony, broadcast live on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube Channel, was highlighted by breathtaking attractions of the Army (TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL), and Air Force (TNI-AU) aircraft. A flyby of eight helicopters with the call sign “Trimatra Flight” over the Presidential Palace compound commenced the event. The fight’s frst element was TNI-AU’s NAS-332 Super Puma helicopter fying the national red-and-white flag at an altitude of 1,000 feet, escorted by three TNI-AD AH-64 E Apache Squadron-11/Assault helicopters. The second element was one TNI AU EC-725 Caraca helicopter flying the TNI’s “Trimatra” flag, escorted by three TNI-AL AS565 MBe Panther helicopters.
Following the Trimatra Flight, 18 fighter jets flaunted their performance in three sequential Flights in arrowhead formation, performing bomb burst maneuvers. The frst was the “Golden Flight” with six TNI T-50i Golden Eagle fighter jets, followed by the “Dragon Flight” with six F-16 Fighting Falcons, and lastly, the “Bajra Flight” with six Sukhoi SU-27/30.
The celebration also showcased TNI’s primary weapon system (alutsista). More than 100 alutsista will be on display along the roads near the Presidential Palace until Oct. 6, 2021. This exhibition aims to introduce the
public to TNI alutsista while at the same time bringing the TNI closer to the community.
Among the defense equipment on display were two units of Sherpa
Light Scout light tactical vehicles, 35 Anoa tactical vehicles, eight Indonesia Light Strike Vehicle (ILSV) Armored Personnel Carriers and two Rantis Bushmaster. In addition, 19 units of P6 ATAV, 18 Mistral Missiles, two MPCV Mistrals, four MCP radar sets, two BTR 4, one Alligator, two Turangga APC, four RM 70 Vampire MLRS, one Rantis Tatrapan, two Oerlikon Skyshield, four MLRS Astros and six Armed Caesar 155 MM. (eka)
