Satgas Atbara

Satgas Atbara
Active	September 9, 1999 - Present
Country	Indonesia
Branch	Indonesian Air Force
Type	Special operations
Role	Counter-Terrorism
Size	34 (September 9, 1999)
Part of	Indonesian National Armed Forces Tentara National Indonesia (Indonesian)
Garrison/HQ	Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Jakarta

The Satgas Atbara (Counter-Terrorist Task Force) is an Special Operations unit whose soldiers are recruited from the Indonesian Air Force unit, the Pasukan Pemukul Reaksi Cepat (Rapid Reaction Strike Force). In Indonesia it is also known by the designation Bravo-Den 90.^[1]

The unit specialize in hostage rescue involving hijacked airframes. ^[2][3]

In April, 2008, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, was made an honorary member of the unit.^[4]

History

Initially, there were 34 personnel in Bravo: 1 commanding officer, 3 group commander, and 30 troops. No information ever released about this unit from its limited formation until the end of 1990s. In this vacuum era, it is believed that its members were assigned into Kopaskhasaus Demonstration and Training Unit (Satdemolat). It was September 9, 1999 this special forces detachment was formally established.

Bravos personnel were recruited from the best graduates of Para-Commando trainings in the Air Force. About 5-10 graduates are recruited for this elite unit. To train its anti-terror techniques, the unit also trains at Armys Sat-81 Gultor (Kopassus) GMF facility and airplane hostage rescue trainings, Marines Denjaka facility for off-shore airfields infiltration and attack trainings, Navy's KOPASKA facility for underwater demolition trainings, Police's Detasemen Gegana facility for anti-bomb unit trainings and UK Special Air Service for HALO/HAHO skills.

References

1. ^ Kopassus & Kopaska - special units of the Republic of Indonesia (Croatian) Google translation
2. ^ http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Indonesia/default.htm
3. ^ Power politics and the Indonesian military By Damien Kingsbury
4. ^ "His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam receives honorary titles", Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam, April 23, 2008

External links

• Realpolitik Ideology By Leonard C. Sebastian, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Indonesia (Google Books)
• "Anti-terror squad: Necessity or project-driven?" Jakarta Post, September 28, 2004
• "Special Forces of IDAF Bravo 90 Detachement", Angkasa, August 1, 2002 (Indonesian)
• Meliala, Adrianus. "Indonesian Experiences in Handling Terrorism Cases. University of Indonesia.