Aussies and TNI exercise in East Java

It was only mid-morning, but the sun was blistering and already more than 35 degrees and the hum of engines echoed across the waters off East Java as Australian and Indonesian forces (TNI) surged towards the coastline, launching a combined amphibious assault during Exercise Keris Woomera.

CAPTION: Soldiers from the Australian Army and Indonesian Armed Forces marines conduct an amphibious landing from an LCM-8 at Banongan Beach, Indonesia, during Exercise Keris Woomera 2026. Story and photo by Captain Annie Richardson.

Cutting through the rolling swell, Zodiacs with members of the ADF joint pre landing force and Indonesian marines raced towards the shore, their powerful outboard engines sending plumes of spray into the air.

Behind them, the deep rumble of a landing craft grew louder as it pushed through the surf, carrying embarked forces towards the beach.

As the landing craft struck the shoreline, heavy ramps descended and soldiers from 2RAR and Indonesian marines quickly fanned out on the beachfront, putting into action training they spent days preparing for.

OC of the landing force Major Harrison Potamianakis said integrating with a foreign force was hugely beneficial as it ensured the two teams were aligned when it came to preparing to take a beach with a joint objective.

“The TNI company embarked on HMAS Choules with us a few days ago to do some force integration training,” he said.

“This ensured that we understood each other’s capabilities and learned each other’s techniques and SOPs [standard operating procedures].”

But the beach landing was only the beginning.

With the coastline behind them, ADF and TNI personnel pressed inland to seize a tactical objective, transitioning from the exposed shoreline into the demanding terrain ahead.

The urgency of the beach landing gave way to deliberate, coordinated movement as soldiers advanced towards their designated objective.

Troops moved through the training area, relying on communication and a shared understanding to clear and secure their position.

The exercise was the first time First Lieutenant Kade Mulia, of the Indonesian Marine Corps, had worked with the ADF, but she said their actions were fully integrated.

“Our communications and tactics, our manoeuvre – we are together,” First Lieutenant Mulia said.

“My favourite part of this joint exercise is making new friends from abroad.

“We are sharing together, sharing about our life, our experiences, especially from the military.”

As the objective was secured, the assault subsided, having achieved a shared challenge.

“It’s really good working with the TNI,” Major Potamianakis said.

“The TNI and the ADF share a common goal of security in the region.

“We also share a common bond and a common culture of being soldiers, and that really helped with the integration over the past few days.

“And that was reflected in the success of the assault.”

Exercise Keris Woomera involved more than 2200 ADF and TNI personnel.

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