Super Garuda Shield 26 begins with multinational partners

Super Garuda Shield 26 opened Aug. 31 in Bandung, assembling service members from Indonesia, the United States and 13 partner nations for a large-scale exercise aimed at bolstering relationships, interoperability and readiness across the region.

Roughly 5,000 personnel are slated to take part through Sept. 11 at multiple sites across Indonesia, including Bandung, Bataraja and Lampung. The U.S. Pacific Command-sponsored event is designed to demonstrate shared purpose among participating militaries while advancing interoperability and delivering realistic training across varied climates, terrain and environments.

“SGS 26 is building valuable relationships and readiness with our Indonesian and multinational partners through challenging and realistic training,” said Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, “We are excited to work side by side with our partners this year to ensure we remain ready to rapidly respond to any contingency or crisis.”

This year’s schedule features engineering construction activities, staff training exercises, airborne operations, jungle training, air assault operations, a large field training exercise, combined arms live-fire exercises, a Stinger missile live-fire event and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire exercise. The range of activities is intended to facilitate professional exchanges, share experience and expertise, and deepen understanding of how partner militaries plan, coordinate and execute operations.

Personnel from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps are training alongside Indonesian counterparts as well as regional allies and partners to sharpen tactical readiness, test joint command-and-control systems and strengthen their ability to operate together. Organizers emphasize that building collective trust and interoperability supports enduring defense relationships and shared interests throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Beyond technical proficiency, the exercise is structured to foster professional relationships that can improve communication and mutual understanding during future operations, contingencies or crises. Super Garuda Shield has grown into a key venue for multinational cooperation and professional exchange, enabling participants to build on existing ties and establish new connections across the region.

The United States’ involvement reflects a longstanding defense relationship with Indonesia and a commitment to work alongside allies and partners. By training together, participating forces aim to enhance their capacity to address shared challenges and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Ellis underscored the value of face-to-face collaboration, saying, “the trust that is required to execute these operations cannot be built in a briefing room; it is built in the mud, in the surf, in the cockpits, and in the operational command centers.”

Training will continue across Indonesia through Sept. 11, with participating forces focused on strengthening professional relationships and improving their ability to operate as a combined and joint force.