The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has taken delivery of its fifth and final Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules on order, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 16 May.
The aircraft, with serial number A-1342, arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base after a ferry flight that started from Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility in Georgia and taking a route that covered Honolulu, Marshall Islands, and Guam before reaching its final destination in Indonesia.
According to the MoD, three C-130Js were delivered in 2023: the first in March 2023 (A-1339), the second aircraft in June 2023 (A-1340), and the third in August 2023 (A-1343). A fourth aircraft (A-1344) was delivered in January 2024. All five aircraft are operated by Air Squadron 31, which also possesses a mix of other C-130 platforms acquired between the 1980s and 1990s.
According to Lockheed Martin, the TNI-AU has opted for the latest C-130J-30 variant which offers increased cargo capacity, speed, range, power, performance and lower operating costs over its legacy C-130s.
“The [new aircraft] will support the [TNI-AU’s] wide range of mission requirements for decades to come,” the company earlier stated. “These new C-130J-30s expand the IAF’s ability to partner on missions and training opportunities with allies and regional forces that also operate Super Hercules.”
Lockheed Martin also noted that Indonesia has operated C-130s since the 1960s, using its fleet to support critical national and regional missions such as delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief, as well as supporting military and peacekeeping support around the region.
More than 520 C-130Js are being used by 26 operators in 22 countries, according to the company.
by Jr Ng
