Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement enables largest combined joint activity in recent history

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will conduct the largest combined joint activity in recent history, Exercise Keris Woomera from 3 November 2024. 

Keris Woomera highlights the ongoing cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, strengthened by the recent signing of the Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement—the most significant defence agreement in the history of our bilateral relationship. 

Approximately 2,000 total personnel from the two nations, drawn from the Navy, Army, and Air Force, will participate in the exercise, while approximately 35 TNI personnel will deploy on board HMAS Adelaide in Darwin to conduct integration training with ADF personnel.

Commencing this week in Indonesia, the exercise will feature air, maritime, amphibious, and follow-on land operations, and a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief evacuation scenario. 

Keris Woomera will culminate with a combined joint live-fire exercise consisting of tanks, artillery, infantry and attack helicopters.

The exercise is part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024, Australia’s largest international engagement activity in the region.

Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN:

“Exercise Keris Woomera gives the ADF and TNI the opportunity to test our combined capabilities across the sea, land and air employing the most complex scenarios.

“By training together, our forces build upon shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges in the region.

“I would like to thank the sailors, soldiers and aviators deployed on HMAS Adelaide, and ashore in Indonesia. I look forward to observing the exercise alongside my TNI counterparts and friends.”

MEDIA NOTE:

Media can access imagery/vision at https://images.defence.gov.au/S20242015