News Headline

EXERCISE HELANG LAUT 20B/2022 CONCLUDES BETWEEN THE ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY AND THE INDONESIAN NAVY

MUARA NAVAL BASE, Monday, 28 November 2022 – The 20^th series of EXERCISE HELANG LAUT between the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the Indonesian Navy (IDN) has concluded after a 7-day interaction from 20^th November 2022 to 27^th November 2022.

The officiation ceremony of the exercise was held at the Multi-National Coordination Centre where Captain Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Fleet Commander RBN initiated the exercise. Also present were First Admiral Deny Prasetyo, Commanding Officer of Battle Group of Second Fleet Command as the IDN Head of Delegation, Colonel Doddy Suhadiman, Defence Attaché of the Republic of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam, participating ships' Commanding Officers, Officers, and ratings involved in the exercise.

In the opening remarks delivered by the RBN Fleet Commander, he highlighted the importance of this bilateral exercise which indirectly contributes to peace and regional stability and directly promotes defence diplomacy between the two countries contributing to an integrated national security through international cooperation and engagement.

KRI JOHN LIE and KRI SAMPARI arrived on Sunday, 20 November 2022 for the exercise and will be joined by KDB DARUTTAQWA and KDB BERKAT for the exercise. This year's exercise will also feature the involvement of RBN's Naval Surface Action Group (NAVSAG) and IDN's Komando Pasukan Katak (KOPASKA).

This series marks the resumption of pre-pandemic modality of interactions where it was conducted over three (3) phases including the Harbour, Sea, and Final phase of the exercise. Participants from both navies held a professional sharing session, practiced interoperability at sea, competed in the HELANG LAUT Cup, and conducted a cleaning campaign at Muara Beach.

The IDN also took the opportunity to commemorate the exercise and the 77^th Anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces with a Mocktail Reception hosted onboard KRI JOHN LIE attended by Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Saifulrizal bin Abdul Latif, Royal Brunei Land Force Commander as the Guest of Honour. Also present were First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Spry bin Haji Serudi @ Haji Seruji, Commander RBN, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Royal Brunei Armed Forces Joint Force Commander, Members of the RBN Executive Board, participants of the exercise from RBN and IDN, as well as invited Defence Attachés representing various nations.

In conjunction with the exercise, the IDN Head of Delegation and the IDN ships' commanding officers also made a courtesy call to the RBN Commander and the RBN Fleet Commander, where they reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between both navies.

EX HELANG LAUT remains the cornerstone of naval cooperation between RBN and IDN symbolizing the longstanding relations established since 1995 and the commitment of both navies towards a peaceful and stable region. The RBN wishes both KRI JOHN LIE and KRI SAMPARI fair winds and following seas.