Indonesia plans Kertajati MRO hub for Air Force jets

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1 hour ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia plans to make its planned Asia-wide Hercules maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Kertajati Airport a main center for maintaining Air Force fighter jets.

Sjafrie made the remarks during a meeting with officials from PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia and Air Force Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono aboard a Hercules C-130 on Wednesday.

“Going forward, we want to be able to independently maintain these fighter aircraft,” Sjafrie said after attending a ceremony marking the handover of a Hercules C-130H from GMF to the Defense Ministry.

Sjafrie said the plan to independently maintain fighter jets followed an order from President Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia’s aerospace industry already has a strong foundation to undertake the work, he said.

One key achievement was GMF’s successful completion of its first heavy maintenance operation on a Hercules aircraft, Sjafrie said.

The achievement demonstrates that Indonesia’s aerospace industry has improved its technological capabilities and human resources, he said.

Sjafrie said the achievement also led to GMF and PT Dirgantara Indonesia being selected to participate in developing the Kertajati MRO facility.

However, Sjafrie did not specify when the Kertajati MRO facility would begin maintaining fighter aircraft.

He said he hoped construction would be completed soon so PT Dirgantara Indonesia and GMF could use the facility to maintain Air Force fighter and transport aircraft.

“We are seeking to strengthen Indonesia’s defense capabilities by relying on the expertise of Indonesian technical personnel,” Sjafrie said.