Alwan Ridha Ramdani, Jakarta – The Indonesian airforce began on Tuesday a joint military exercise with the US Airforce at the Husein Sastranegara Airbase, in Bandung, West Java.

The Teak Iron 2009 exercise, scheduled to run until October 8th involves 150 Indonesian personnel from seven units or sub units including the airforce elite Pasukan Khas, the 31st Air Squadron, the 32nd Air Squadron, paratroopers from the 461st Battalion, and the military equipment maintenance unit.

While the US Airforce brought 75 personnel and suporting staffs from the special operation 320 STS. The Indonesian airforce will uses one C-130 Hercules in the training, while the US force uses the MC-130P Hercules.

Spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force Colonel Iman Sudrajat said the training would hopefully improve the flying, jumping, intelligent, and security technics of the indonesian personnel.

While US Air Force Chief Mission, Colonel Robert Toth said the Indonesian force could improve their knowledge on how to maintain an aircraft.