Indonesia’s first locally-upgraded F-16A conducts first test flight

First F-16A of the TNI-AU to undergo Falcon STAR upgrade with PTDI. Photo c/o TNI-AU.

The first Lockheed Martin F-16A Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) to be locally upgraded, successfully conducted its first test flight on 18 February 2020.

The aircraft with serial number TS-1610, took off from the TNI-AU’s Iswahyudi Air Base in East Java.

This is the first time Indonesia conducted a fighter upgrade program on its own, with this aircraft becoming the first F-16 of the TNI-AU to receive the Falcon STAR (Structural Augmentation Roadmap) program, which allows for mid-life upgrades and structural life extension to around 8,000 flying hours. 

Additional improvements on avionics and weapon systems were made, allowing it to gain additional capabilities that were previously not found on the older F-16A/B fleet.

The Indonesian Falcon STAR program is being conducted by state-owned aviation company PT Dirgantara Indonesia with supervision and assistance of technical experts from American aviation giant Lockheed Martin.

The TNI-AU has 8 more F-16A/B Fighting Falcons to undergo the Falcon STAR upgrade.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] TNI Ankatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force)