“Today, we are shooting two Stinger missiles,” said U.S. Army Capt. Kaden Cox, lead planner and officer in charge of the live-fire exercise, 11th ABD, Air and Missile Defense. “Not only is this a first for the whole 11th ABD, but it is also the first time that we are utilizing this capability in Indonesia.”
The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile designed to destroy low-flying aircraft, including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aerial systems. About 100 service members from the United States, Indonesia, Australia and Canada supported the event, underlining cooperation among partner nations in the Indo-Pacific.
“It has been great working with our partner nation,” Cox said. “The Indonesian citizens have been more than friendly and helpful in working with us to coordinate airspace and ranges.” For Soldiers firing the weapon, the training offered a rare and valuable experience.
“This was my first time shooting one of these things,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Jackson Muse, an infantryman and main firer for the exercise, 11th ABD. “We got up early to rehearse, orient the gear, and just took time to get into the right head space.”
For leaders on the ground, the event held equal importance as it allowed them to see their Soldiers engage the system in real conditions. “Having Pfc. Muse out here means he is solid, lethal, doing the right thing and performing to standards,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Rogelio Munoz, an infantryman assigned to the 11th ABD. “I am glad we had the chance to come out here and engage the target effectively, like we are trained to do.”
The live-fire marked a significant advance in the 11th ABD’s air defence training, providing firsthand experience with the Stinger system. “Maintaining safe skies is essential for operations,” said Cox.
Garuda Shield began in 2007 between the United States and Indonesia, becoming Super Garuda Shield in 2022 with the inclusion of additional partner nations. This year’s exercise continues through 5 September, featuring joint and combined training across multiple domains to enhance interoperability, capabilities, and cooperation.
