Indonesia Reviews Malaysian Aircraft Offer for Forest Fire Response
Malaysia has offered Indonesia two aircraft and 44 personnel to help fight land and forest fires. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is assessing the proposed deployment and possible technology cooperation, with any assistance subject to operational needs and field conditions.
Aircraft offer awaits technical review
The offer includes a CL-415MP amphibious aircraft, a Mi-171 helicopter, and flight crews and technical teams. It was presented during a meeting between BNPB Head Kristomei Sianturi and Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Muzafar Shah Mustafa at the BNPB Graha Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 27.
Speaking in Makassar, South Sulawesi, that day, Berton SP Panjaitan, acting head of BNPB's Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, said the agency would thoroughly assess whether the assistance matched conditions on the ground. He described the proposal as part of the two countries' effort to identify support that could strengthen Indonesia's fire response.
"All forms of international assistance will be tailored to disaster management needs and governing regulations, with operational control remaining under the Indonesian government," Berton said.
Domestic operations and the scale of the fires
Indonesia is continuing to combine ground firefighting with water-bombing flights and weather modification, Berton said. BNPB and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) provide technical coordination for that integrated response.
Figures from BNPB's Operations Control Directorate show that the government had mobilized 71,878 ground firefighters and 63 aircraft as of October 25. The fleet comprised 39 water-bombing helicopters and 24 planes assigned to patrol and weather modification.
ANTARA News reported that fires burned nearly 286,000 hectares nationwide from January through late August 2026. BNPB recorded more than 48,889 hectares burned in six priority provinces, while the Forestry Ministry's SIPONGI system logged peak activity of more than 1,200 active hotspots across Kalimantan and Sumatra.
The weather outlook also points to a delayed rainy season. According to ANTARA News, BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani said the Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly had reached +2.63 degrees, with a very strong El Niño projected to persist until early 2027. BMKG forecasts that the rainy season will begin late in 529 seasonal zones (ZOM), covering 61.08 percent of Indonesia's land area.
Technology talks and deployment conditions
Beyond aircraft and personnel, BNPB and Malaysia are exploring cooperation on detecting and monitoring fires, collecting and analyzing data, assessing impacts, and developing firefighting strategies. The discussions also cover joint research and innovation, technical coordination, and staff training and capacity building.
BNPB's next step is technical coordination with Malaysia's National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), facilitated by Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agencies will examine whether the package is suitable, how ready it is for deployment, and what logistical support and aviation safety procedures would be needed. They will also consider contingency arrangements if dense smoke and poor visibility limit air operations.