Sukhoi Aircraft Standby In Makassar, KSAU Ensures TNI Threats In IKN Airspace

JAKARTA - Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono ensured that his staff was ready to dispel any potential threats in the airspace of the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan with the main weapon system equipment (alutsista).

Tonny Harjono said the Sukhoi aircraft was ready to be flown from Hasanuddin Air Force Base (Lanud), Makassar when dark flights were detected in IKN airspace.

"If there is a dark flight that requires the Air Force to take action or 'intercept' (intercept), then we will send a plane from Makassar, there is a Sukhoi plane there," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 29.

If additional strength is needed, Tonny said other fighter aircraft are ready to be launched from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan or from Tarakan, North Kalimantan is adapted to the existing situation.

According to Tonny, the supervision of the airspace in IKN can currently be monitored using the TNI AU radar which is monitored from the Makassar Sector Command (Kosek) II.

In addition, Tony continued, the Indonesian Air Force will also form an Air Force Unit at IKN VVIP Airport, East Kalimantan.

According to Tonny, an air squadron will be placed at IKN VVIP Airport, which will include the task of operating the State Secretariat Ministry aircraft commonly used by the president and vice president.

"There is a Boeing 737 BBJ, then a Super Puma Helicopter which is used for the movement or shift of the VVIP," he said.

Tonny said officials from the Indonesian Air Force Headquarters would have an office at the Dhomber Air Force Base (Lanud) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan for a while if the office building in IKN had not been completed.

"Later there will be temporary offices if the Air Force Headquarters has not been built and requires officials from the Air Force Headquarters to have offices," he said.