KSAU Ensures Second C-130 J Super Hercules Delivery Is On Schedule

KSAU Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo (three left)/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi

JAKARTA - Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo conveyed that the delivery of the second unit of Super Hercules C-130 J was scheduled, namely in June 2023.

Fadjar said Indonesian Air Force soldiers assigned to crew the aircraft, including its pilots, had also received training from the aircraft maker, Lockheed Martin, in the United States.

"For the progress of Super Hercules C-130 J, it doesn't matter. We just have to wait, maybe later the delivery will be carried out by the factory, Lockheed Martin, and now our crew has carried out training, both the pilot and the ground crew water, and so on," said Marshal Fadjar as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 31.

The Indonesian Air Force is scheduled to receive five units of Super Hercules C-130 J, which were purchased from the United States company Lockheed Martin Aerospace, in the period March 2023 to January 2024.

The Indonesian Air Force received the first unit of Super Hercules C-130 J on March 6, 2023, which was flown directly from the Lockheed Martin factory in Georgia, United States, on February 28, 2023.

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto directly handed over the latest Hercules aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force to the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on March 8, 2023, witnessed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo.

During the handover ceremony, the President took the time to review the Halim Perdanakusuma 31 Squadron, and poured flower water on the fuselage.

(Super Hercules C-130 J) can transport troops complete with 98 parachutes, if troops only can carry 128 people, and carry 19.9 tons of goods. This means that it is good for military and non-military operations, and natural disaster assistance. The range can reach all of Indonesia with 11 hours of flying hours," said the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Then, the Minister of Defense at the same event explained that Super Hercules C-130 J treatment, repair and maintenance (MRO) will be carried out in Indonesia.

Three other Super Hercules C-130 J units are scheduled to arrive in the country in July 2023, October 2023 and January 2024. The five Super Hercules C-130 J units will later strengthen Air Squadron 31 Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta.