The armed forces of Indonesia, the United States, India, Japan, and France were the protagonists on Friday, September 4, 2026, of an intensive training session with static-line parachute jumps (static-line) as part of the vast multinational exercise Super Garuda Shield 2026.

The exercises took place at an altitude of 1,200 feet above the Baturaja landing area, located in the Ogan Komering Ulu district, in South Sumatra Province.

The numbers of the airborne exercise

The joint operation involved a total of 320 paratroopers from five different nations:

• United States: 147 paratroopers
• Indonesia (TNI): 110 soldiers
• India: 40 military paratroopers
• Japan: 17 units
• France: 6 paratroopers

Logistics and air transport support was guaranteed by the coordinated use of state-of-the-art aircraft: the exercise saw the participation of two Hercules C-130 aircraft from the Indonesian armed forces (TNI), supported by three Hercules aircraft and a KC-130 tanker aircraft provided by the United States Air Force (US Air Force).

Tactical and strategic objectives

Lieutenant General M. Naudi Nurdika, Head of the Command for Doctrine Development, Instruction and Training of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), emphasized that the training aims to strengthen paratroopers' ability to conduct safe and precise aerial maneuvers while improving the tactical skills necessary to infiltrate directly behind enemy lines by air.

The exercise also represents a fundamental testing ground for synchronizing operational procedures and testing the readiness of contingents in mounting immediate joint operations in response to any regional crises or emergencies.

A multinational framework

The 2026 edition of Super Garuda Shield is developing through extended modules in various strategic regions of Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bandung, Lampung, and North Kalimantan.

In addition to the five countries directly involved in the paratrooper drops, the broad multinational coalition of the exercise—which began on August 31 and is scheduled to conclude on September 11—includes the participation of numerous other nations as partners or observers: Australia, Netherlands, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Cambodia, Canada, South Korea, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.

«This exercise represents a clear manifestation of Indonesia's defense diplomacy, aimed at preserving stability, security, and peace throughout the Indo-Pacific region», concluded General Nurdika.