Japan to deploy Chinook helicopters in Indonesia’s forest-fire response from Sept. 12 to 19, 2026

Three Japanese CH-47 Chinook helicopters are being sent to Kalimantan aboard the JS Kunisaki to help Indonesia tackle forest and land fires. The ship is scheduled to arrive at Kijing Port Terminal in West Kalimantan on Sept. 9, 2026.

The helicopters will not begin water-bombing operations immediately after arrival. They must first undergo system preparation and flight tests, with the deployment planned for Sept. 12 to 19. Japan is also sending about 180 personnel to operate the aircraft, alongside roughly 150 crew members aboard the vessel.

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The JS Kunisaki is currently scheduled to arrive at Kijing Port Terminal, West Kalimantan, on September 9, 2026.

Tri Budi Utomo, secretary-general of Indonesia's Defense Ministry, said the helicopters would strengthen aerial firefighting operations. Some fire locations cannot be reached effectively by ground teams, he said, making the additional aircraft important to the response.

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Japanese assistance will then be integrated with all forest and land fire operations conducted by the Indonesian government.

The assistance follows the Defense Cooperation Arrangement signed by Indonesia and Japan on May 4, 2026. Tri said the agreement includes disaster-response cooperation and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. He described the support as technical and humanitarian, involving equipment, capacity and expertise.

Tri stressed that the Japanese deployment would supplement Indonesia's response, not replace it. "Japanese assistance will then be integrated with all forest and land fire operations conducted by the Indonesian government," he said. He also framed the mission as an example of defense cooperation producing concrete benefits for people facing disasters.

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Why are these three additional CH-47 Chinooks important? Because the characteristics of forest and land fires do not always allow all fire locations to be reached effectively through ground operations.