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| Presiden Prabowo Subianto Hands Over Airbus A400M to TNI, Marking New Era in Air Capability. |
Star News INDONESIA, Monday, (03 November 2025). JAKARTA - Indonesia officially welcomed its first Airbus A400M/MRTT Alpha 4001 aircraft on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s effort to modernize its air fleet and enhance both defense and humanitarian capabilities.
President Prabowo Subianto, who initiated the purchase of two A400M/MRTT aircraft in 2021 during his tenure as Minister of Defense, personally handed over the first unit to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. The second aircraft is scheduled to arrive in February next year.
“This aircraft represents a major leap in Indonesia’s air mobility, both for defense readiness and for responding to humanitarian crises,” President Prabowo stated during the handover ceremony.
The Airbus A400M/MRTT Alpha 4001 is a versatile, multirole aircraft capable of performing a wide range of missions—from air-to-air refueling and strategic transport to medical evacuation and disaster response operations.
Equipped with 66 medical stretchers, advanced medical support equipment, and firefighting facilities, the A400M can also carry up to 160 passengers or 37 tons of cargo—nearly twice the capacity of the C-130 Hercules currently in use.
With an impressive maximum flight endurance of 11 hours and a range of up to 8,900 kilometers (without payload), the aircraft offers Indonesia an expanded operational reach across the archipelago and beyond. Even with a full load, it can travel 3,300 kilometers without refueling.
The aircraft is also fitted with a state-of-the-art integrated avionics system, designed to enhance situational awareness and flight performance under various conditions.
Military analysts view the arrival of the A400M/MRTT as a strategic step forward in bolstering the TNI Air Force’s operational flexibility, enabling Indonesia to respond faster and more effectively to both regional security challenges and humanitarian emergencies.
With its advanced technology and multirole design, the Airbus A400M/MRTT is expected to become a cornerstone of Indonesia’s air mobility operations—bridging defense capability and humanitarian service in equal measure.
Editor : Maria Patricia
