The Indonesian Ministry of Defense reported that its Air Force is looking to incorporate two A400M military transport aircraft, whose contract with Airbus was signed in 2021.
During the final day of the Dubai Air Show 2021, Airbus Defense and Space and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a purchase agreement for two A400M aircraft, in transport and in-flight refueling configuration, with an option for four more units. The contract included a complete maintenance and training support package.
As Airbus press people told us in due course, the contract was due to come into effect in 2022. However, since then nothing was heard of the deal again until the following post by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense on social media:
Setelah menerima pesawat Hercules Tipe J, Heli H-225M Caracal, CN-212i serta kepastian perkuatan 42 unit Rafale, TNI AU kembali menyatakan kesiapannya menyambut kehadiran dua pesawat Airbus A400 M, yang telah ditandatangani kontrak pemesanannya oleh Kemhan. pic.twitter.com/pz6BsMKEce
— Kemhan RI (@Kemhan_RI) January 12, 2024
The Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara or TNI-AU) is reportedly preparing its first cohort of pilot and technician candidates to be sent to Airbus training centers in Europe to begin training on the A-400M weapons system.
Of particular interest to TNI-AU is that the A400Ms will come configured with in-flight refueling capability, which would allow the only KC-130B available for these roles to be retired from service.
Indonesia has a large maritime territory (dotted with islands) over which it must exercise its sovereign presence, which is why it has always been interested in incorporating long-range combat aircraft, such as the Russian Sukhoi Su-27/30, and more recently the French Rafale and is negotiating with the US the purchase of the F-15ID. The incorporation of air tankers responds to Jakarta’s strategic needs to exercise its military muscle even in the farthest reaches of its extensive territory.
