Indonesia confirms acquisition of C-130J Super Hercules, expects delivery completed by 2020

The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules as operated by the US military. 


The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) confirmed that they ordered six American-made Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, and is expecting the start of deliveries this year, and all aircraft delivered by 2020. 

This is after reports from as late as  IndoDefence 2018 last November stating that no contract has been signed yet between Lockheed Martin and Indonesian authorities.

This was confirmed by the TNI’s Air Force information Agency head to Indonesian defense page Angkasa Review last 8 March 2019.

It was also mentioned that the TNI-AU’s 31st Air Squadron based in Jakarta will receive the new aircraft, with the older fleet of C-130B/H variants operated by other squadrons.

Indonesia has been planning to acquire a fleet of new transport aircraft as its fleet of legacy C-130B/H Hercules has taken a huge toll after losing five of their C-130s to disastrous crashes from 2000 to 2016, including one that was recently donated by Australia.

Based on Lockheed Martin’s previous confirmation, the deal with Indonesia would be a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) instead of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

It is also expected that Indonesia may have follow-on orders in the future, as it continues to improve and update its ageing transport fleet. Indonesia operates around 20 legacy Hercules tactical transport aircraft, with the first one joining the TNI-AU in the 1960s.



[1] Angkasa Review
[2] Jane’s Defence Industry
[3] Defense News

Indonesia confirms acquisition of C-130J Super Hercules, expects delivery completed by 2020 Indonesia confirms acquisition of C-130J Super Hercules, expects delivery completed by 2020 Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on March 12, 2019 Rating: 5

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