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President Joko Widodo (wearing jacket) at the handover ceremony of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules heavy transport aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Indonesian Air Force Base, Jakarta, Wednesday (24/1/2024). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu -

Voinews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo witnessed the symbolic handover of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules heavy transport aircraft from the Ministry of Defense to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Wednesday. The aircraft was handed over by Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo.

"Yes, we witnessed the delivery of the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This is a transport aircraft that has been ordered, and is very important for both war and non-war purposes," said Jokowi.

He said the Super Hercules aircraft was very good for a country the size of Indonesia which has quite a lot of short runways. "Sometimes the airport only has a short runway, this Super Hercules can land, and it can fly 11 hours non-stop," said Jokowi.

This Super Hercules aircraft is the fourth of five aircraft ordered by the Ministry of Defense to strengthen the Indonesian Air Force's transport aircraft fleet.

The C-130J-30 Super Hercules heavy transport aircraft with registration number A-1344 in plain gray was flown to Indonesia from the Lockheed Martin Global factory in Marietta, Georgia, United States, on January 16 2023 and arrived at the TNI Air Base AU Halim Perdanakusuma on January 22 2024.

The relay flight of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft which had been given the registration number A-1344 from Marietta to Indonesia was led by the Commander of the 31st Air Squadron, Lt. Col. Pnb Alfonsus Fatma Astara Duta, accompanied by the Head of the Indonesian Air Force Halim Perdanakusuma Headquarters, Major Pnb Chandra Danang Jaya. , and Kaflight Line 1 Flighthar Skadud 31 Tech Captain Barry Yoga Patria.

A number of expert personnel from Lockheed Martin participated in this trip, namely Richard Anthony, John Justin, Rolland Mark, and Robert John.

Based on the information received, in an effort to improve and optimize Indonesia's air defense capabilities, the Ministry of Defense has successfully completed the procurement program for five C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft.

This procurement was a strategic step taken by Prabowo to strengthen the Indonesian Air Force, especially in the field of tactical transportation, while the planning for the procurement of the Super Hercules had been implemented at the time of the Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff (at that time) Marshal TNI Yuyu Sutisna.

The procurement of five aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin Global Inc, USA includes spare parts, ground support and training programs, both for pilots and technicians. The total number of personnel carrying out the training program was 58 people consisting of 12 pilots, 40 technicians and six load masters.

The C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft is the newest and most advanced aircraft in its class using full-glass cockpit technology and a Rolls Royce AR2100D3 Turboprop engine with speeds reaching 410 nautical miles per hour or 356 knots.

The C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft was chosen by the Ministry of Defense because it is very effective for an archipelagic country like Indonesia which has a very large area and many short runways.

The C-130J-30 Super Hercules is capable of flying for 11 hours non-stop and takes off and landing on short runways, has a maximum take-off weight of 164,000 lbs, superior to the previous version, namely the C-130-H Hercules which has a maximum weight take-off155,000 lbs.

This aircraft is the fourth aircraft with registration number A-1344 of five aircraft ordered by the Ministry of Defense for the Indonesian Air Force.

The fifth aircraft (A-1342) is planned to arrive in April 2024. Meanwhile, the three previous aircraft have been handed over to the Indonesian Air Force, namely on March 6 2023 (A-1339), June 22 2023 (A-1340), and August 3 2023 (A- 1343).

Apart from the C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft, on that occasion Prabowo also symbolically handed over the results of the rejuvenation of the Fennec helicopter and its spare parts to the TNI AD which were received by the TNI AD Chief of Staff General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak as well as the results of the rejuvenation and critical spare parts of the AS 565 MBe helicopter Panther to the Indonesian Navy which was received by the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali.

On this occasion, four C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft and four rejuvenated Fennec helicopters were displayed. Meanwhile, only three of the AS 565 MBe Panther helicopters resulting from the rejuvenation were deployed because the others were being used for routine operations and maintenance missions.

Apart from that, four of the eight TNI AU H225M Caracal helicopters which Prabowo handed over on December 1 2023 were also deployed//ANT-VOI