Japan sends 180 personnel and three helicopters to support Indonesia’s forest-fire response

Three Japanese Chinook helicopters are due to arrive in West Kalimantan to help Indonesia fight forest and land fires, alongside 180 Japanese military personnel.

The personnel are already in Pontianak inspecting facilities for the helicopters, which will use the city as their base. The CH-47s are being transported aboard the Japanese naval vessel JS Kunisaki, which is scheduled to arrive at Kijing Port on Wednesday. The aircraft are expected to strengthen firefighting through water-bombing operations.

Indonesia’s Defense Ministry stressed that the country will retain full control of the response. Japanese personnel and equipment will operate within Indonesia’s existing mechanisms, rather than running a separate mission. Defense Ministry Secretary-General Lt. Gen. Tri Budi Utomo said the assistance was humanitarian and part of broader diplomatic ties.

The deployment follows the Defence Cooperation Arrangement signed by Indonesia and Japan on May 4, 2026. Utomo said the agreement covers disaster management and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. “All national capabilities will continue to be deployed. Japan’s assistance will then be integrated into all forest and land fire response operations,” he said. Indonesia thanked Japan for the support and said the three Chinooks were expected to make a tangible contribution to firefighting in Kalimantan.

“

All national capabilities will continue to be deployed. Japan’s assistance will then be integrated into all forest and land fire response operations.