KSAU Prepares Balikpapan Dhomber Air Base As Air Force Headquarters Temporarily At IKN

Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Mohammad Tonny Harjono in the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base area, East Jakarta, Thursday (1/8/2024) (ANTARA/Walda Marison)

JAKARTA - Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal Mohammad Tonny Harjono said his party had prepared the Balikpapan Dhomber Air Base (Lanud) as the temporary Air Force Headquarters to support personnel operations in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan. "If ordered to move to IKN, we are ready. Physically, the building for the Air Force Headquarters has not yet been built, but we are preparing the closest airport in Dhomber Balikpapan," said Tonny when met at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Thursday, August 1. Tonny explained, to support the operation of the Indonesian Air Force at IKN, his party will complete the Dhomber Air Base with several facilities such as official houses, offices of high-ranking officials, mess personnel as well as workplaces for troops and crew who will be assigned there. Not only for operations, but Tony also ordered the ranks of the Dhomber Air Base to prepare air performances to welcome the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in the IKN sky on August 17. With these various preparations, Tonny believes that the activities of Air Force Headquarters personnel at Dhomber Air Base in maintaining the IKN area will be maximized. Previously, the Indonesian Air Force had made various efforts to monitor IKN airspace. One of them is by using radar that is monitored from the Makassar Sector Command (Kosek) II. In addition, 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 later be tasked with, among others, operating aircraft from the Ministry of State Secretariat which is usually 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," said Tonny at the Dirgantara Field of the Air Force Academy (AU), Yogyakarta, Monday (29/7).