Indonesian troops receive training on Bushmasters

Soldiers from the Indonesian National Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre conduct driver training on the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Darwin, Northern Territory. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) troops have completed training conducted by the 5th Battalion of the Australian Army on the operation and maintenance of Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs).

In mid-April the Indonesian Ministry of Defense approved Australia's offer to donate 15 Bushmasters to the TNI to support the service's peacekeeping capabilities.

“Within weeks [after accepting the donation], TNI soldiers touched down in Darwin to begin a comprehensive training on Bushmasters,” the Australian Army said in a press release on 21 June.

The TNI soldiers learnt the Bushmaster's basic operations as well as challenging 4×4 operations such as terrain and water crossings as a part of the training, the army added. “The TNI soldiers then covered off on maintenance and basic servicing of the Bushmaster.”

The TNI troops also learnt about the vehicle's communications equipment from Thales Digital Systems, the army added.

Major Matt Breckenridge of the Australian Army said, “The purpose was to give these soldiers the skills they need to safely operate and maintain the vehicles and associated communications equipment in austere environments.”

“The Bushmaster is particularly well suited to missions where there is an increased risk of ambush, mines, or improvised explosive devices, which are common to the mission areas where TNI conducts peacekeeping operations,” Maj Breckenridge added.