Indonesia plans to acquire two squadrons of F-16 Block 72 Viper

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) plans to acquire 2 squadrons worth of new Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 72 Viper fighter aircraft as part of its Strategic Plan 2020 to 2024.

This was announced by the TNI-AU’s Chief of Staff, Marshal Yuyu Sutsina in Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Riau on 28 October 2019.

Marshall Sutsina mentioned that Indonesia still relies on the F-16 for its air defense requirements and believes that it will continue to do so in the future. The TNI-AU equipped with 33 of the aircraft in different variants making it the most prolific fighter aircraft in its fleet. These fighters are currently based in Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Riau, and Iswashjudi Air Base in East Java.

He also mentioned that the high volume of aircraft and the numerous global users, plus its reliability makes it a very good aircraft.

The F-16 Block 70/72 Viper is the latest variant of the venerable F-16 Fighting Falcon line of single-engine multirole fighter from the US, and is also offered to several regional air forces. Indonesia is said to be the first air arm in the ASEAN region to operate the F-16 Fighting Falcon, receiving their first F-16B Block 15 aircraft in 1989.

Indonesia is also in the process of acquiring the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35, with 11 units under negotiations with Russia.



[1] Antara News
[2] Jakarta Globe