RMAF F/A-18D Hornet, TNI-AU Hawk 109/209 Patrol Strait of Malacca Airspace in PATKOR MALINDO Operation
According to a statement on RMAF’s social media, the purpose of PATKOR MALINDO is to carry out joint monitoring over the Strait of Malacca airspace.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) have conducted a coordinated aerial maritime patrol under the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Air Patrol Operation (PATKOR MALINDO) Series 2/24 over the airspace of the Strait of Malacca.
According to a statement on RMAF’s social media, the purpose of PATKOR MALINDO is to carry out joint monitoring over the Strait of Malacca airspace.
In addition, the operation serves as a bilateral exercise aimed at enhancing operational readiness, fostering integrated and strategic cooperation, and strengthening the existing defense diplomacy between the two air forces.
The joint patrol also acts as a “show of presence” to ensure the security and stability of regional airspace, particularly over the waters of the Strait of Malacca.
For this operation, the RMAF deployed two F/A-18D fighter jets from No. 18 Squadron, while the TNI-AU deployed three Hawk 109/209 fighter jets from Squadron 12, operating out of Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Pekanbaru.
The PATKOR MALINDO operation also involved the RMAF’s CRC Kuantan as the Operations Control Center, JAMCC Sepang, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) as coordinators for the designated airspace.
Meanwhile, TNI-AU’s Komando Sektor 1 (KOSEK 1) Medan acted as the Operations Control Center on their side.
This joint air patrol is a testament to the regional defense cooperation aimed at safeguarding the airspace security and stability of the two neighboring nations, benefitting multiple stakeholders.
The success of this operation follows the PATKOR MALINDO Series 2/24 Coordination Meeting held in Pekanbaru from November 5 to 7, 2024. — DSA
