2003 Bawean Incident

Location of Bawean
Date3 July 2003
Location
Near Bawean Island in the Java Sea
Result
  • Resolved with signals and communication
  • Indonesia filed a diplomatic complaint to the US
Belligerents

 Indonesia

 United States

Strength

The 2003 Bawean incident was an incident where two Indonesian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon equipped with AIM-9 missiles were sent to intercept five US Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson where the F-16s and F/A-18s engaged in a dogfight, missile lock and electronic warfare in 2003 near Bawean Island in the Java Sea, north of Java.

Incident

The incident began when Indonesian Air Force radars detected the movement of five unidentified aircraft in a combat formation. Because the aircraft later disappeared from radar, the Sector II National Air Defense Command and the National Air Defense Operations Center not report it to the center.[1]

3 hours later radar detected more activity on the Green 63 civil flight route near Bawean Island or 66 nautical miles (122 km; 76 mi) from Surabaya.[2]

Because the aircraft were not communicating with air traffic control, it was deemed dangerous for civil aviation. The commander of the Second National Air Defense Sector Command scrambled two F-16B Fighting Falcon fighter jets (registration TS-1602 and TS-1603) to identify the aircraft. At 17:04 the two armed F-16s took off from Iswahjudi AFB.[3][4]

The F-16s intercepted the aircraft which ended up being identified as US Navy F/A-18 Hornets from USS Carl Vinson. According to Indonesian officials, "an attack maneuver" ensued. During the interception, Indonesia claimed that radar lock-ons and radar jamming occurred.[2] The incident ended after radio communication was established.[5] The US aircraft claimed to be operating in International waters.[2]

After establishing contact, the F/A-18s flew away and the F-16s returned to Iswahjudi Air Force Base.[3]

Investigation and aftermath

After the F-16s landed, the Indonesian Air Force received information from Bali Air Traffic Control that the Hornets are part of US Naval fleet and that the Hornets just contacted Bali ATC to report their activity.

The five Hornets intercepted were from the Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class supercarrier sailing from west to east with two frigates and a destroyer. From the results of monitoring by the Indonesian Air Force, the convoy of US warships in the vicinity of Bawean Island was traveling at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and was heading for Madura and Kangean Islands 12 hours later. Bawean Island, which is located in the north of Java Island or in the middle of the Java Sea and it is between the Indonesian island of Java to the south and Borneo to the north, in the west lies the island of Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, and to the east there's the outer islands of South Sulawesi Province.

Because the US did not ratify the 1982 UNCLOS, they did not recognize the Java Sea as territorial waters

Indonesian Air Force 737-200 'Surveiller' maritime patrol aircraft, equipped with radars

The Indonesian Air Force sent a Boeing 737-200 Surveiller reconnaissance aircraft to monitor their movements. When the 737 contacted the Hornets to ask where they are heading, the Hornets replied "We are in international waters."

The US warship fleet was still transiting the area and claimed to be in international waters. On that occasion, the 737 photographed the Carl Vinson, two frigates, and a US destroyer. This reconnaissance was escorted by two US Navy Hornets.

Following up on this incident, the DPR at that time asked the Indonesian government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense, to issue a protest diplomatic note against the United States government. From the photos that were captured, the Government protested to the US for entering Indonesian waters without permission.[2]

The US Embassy in Jakarta stated that the naval convoy had sought permission from the Indonesian government and that the warplanes involved in the incident did not violate international laws and that they had informed the Indonesian authorities beforehand about the exercise they were conducting. Indonesia denied receiving notification and said it did not issue security clearance for the Navy convoy.[6][7] However, Indonesian Rear Air Marshal Wresnowiro said the US Navy requested permission to transit, "but our bureaucracy is too slow to pass the security clearance."[5]

Carl Vinson went on to visit Perth on 14 July 2003. The carrier then visited Hong Kong on 6 August travelling back through the Java Sea on a similar path as in early July.[8][9] During the 2003 deployment, VFA-22, VMFA-314, VFA-146, and VFA-147 deployed on Carl Vinson apparently with F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft.[10] It is not clear which squadron was involved in this incident.

References

  1. ↑ "Menegangkan, Insiden TNI AU Cegat Pesawat AS Di Atas Pulau Bawean Indonesia". Riau Online. 15 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Insiden Bawean, Bukti Ketangguhan TNI AU dalam Menjaga Kedaulatan Udara Indonesia". Indonesia Defense. 27 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 "F-16 nomor registrasi TS-1603 berjasa pada insiden Pulau Bawean". ANTARA News. 15 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Hari Ini, 20 Tahun Lalu, F-16 TNI AU Nyaris "Dogfight" Dengan F/A-18 Hornet Di Atas Bawean". INDO MILITER blog. 3 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Indonesian, U.S. Jets Face Off Near Java". The Los Angeles Times. 5 July 2003.
  6. ↑ "Indonesia Blames Indian & US Military Planes For Violating Their Airspace Multiple Times Since January". The EuraAsian Times.
  7. ↑ "Indonesia protest US jet incursion". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 July 2003.
  8. ↑ "USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) WestPac Cruise Book 2003 - Cruise Route and Ports of Call". Unofficial US Navy Site. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) history". U.S. Carriers. 13 March 1982. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) WestPac Cruise Book 2003 - Table of Contents". Unofficial US Navy Site. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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