TNI AU Strengthened with New Domestically Made Transport Aircraft.

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Air Force received one new NC-212i transport aircraft with tail number A-211 manufactured by PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

In an official press release from the Indonesian Air Force, as reported by ANTARA, it was explained that the plane had arrived at the TNI AU headquarters on Thursday (30/1).

"The plane arrived at Air Squadron 4, Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base, Malang, East Java, to strengthen Group 1 Transport through Air Squadron 4," said Head of the TNI AU Information Service, First Marshal TNI I Nyoman Suadnyana, quoted on Saturday, August 1.

He explained that this aircraft is the result of cooperation in the purchase of defense equipment by the Ministry of Defense with PT DI.

The commander of Group 1 Transport, Marsma TNI I Gusti Putu Setia Darma, said the acceptance of this aircraft is part of the TNI AU's efforts to modernize the main weapons system equipment (alutsista).

With the increasing quality of TNI AU's alutsista, he believes that air defense strength will also increase.

"With the increase in the strength of the transport aircraft, the operational readiness of the unit will increase to meet the demands of increasingly complex and dynamic tasks," he said.

Previously, PT Dirgantara Indonesia Production Director Dena Hendriana said the locally assembled alutsista with a special configuration for Troop Transport, Rainmaking & Cameratersebut was flown directly (ferry flight) from the PTDI Bandung Delivery Center to Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base, Malang, Thursday.

"Alhamdulillah, today we will conduct a ferry flight. This is part of our commitment to deliver messages from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. This is the 8th unit of 9 that has been ordered. Insya Allah this will strengthen the strength of the Indonesian Air Force which is based in Malang and become something to be able to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia," said Dena in Bandung, Thursday (30/7).

He explained that the aircraft with tail number AX-2135 was designed to be versatile for the needs of troop transportation, cloud seeding/weather modification operations, and aerial photo mapping.

The use of EASA-certified MTV-27 propellers combined with the Honeywell TPE331 engine provides significant performance advantages, such as lower vibration and noise, stability when flying single-engined at altitude, and smoother engine start-up.

Dena Hendriana also emphasized that the delivery was part of the commitment to completing the contract for the procurement of nine NC212i units with the Ministry of Defense.

One unit left in the contract for nine aircraft is scheduled to be completed and delivered in October 2027.

The pilot in command, Ferry Letkol Pnb Andika Ardyagana, who flew the aircraft with Copilot Captain Irvan Fajar, confirmed the reliability of the advanced alutsista's performance after passing the Flight Acceptance Certificate on July 9, 2026.

"For the performance of the aircraft, yesterday we carried out development. Alhamdulillah, it was able to reach its maximum capability so that later after the ferry flight, it will be accepted by the Ministry of Defense and by the Indonesian Air Force. Our hope is that this aircraft will add to the strength of the Indonesian Air Force to maintain the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia," said Andika.