First Super Hercules Arrive in Jakarta
JAKARTA: The first C-130J-30 Super Hercules A-1339 aircraft ordered by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base here on Monday (March 6).
The transport plane landed at about 1 pm local time and was accorded a water cannon salute. The aircraft’s arrival was welcomed by Deputy Chief of the Air Force Staff, Air Vice Marshal Agustinus Gustaf Brugman, and airbase commander, Colonel Adrian Damanik.
The seven crew members onboard comprised two pilots and two loadmasters from Lockheed Martin, two aviators, and a flight engineer.
AVM Brugman said the Super Hercules aircraft was selected to strengthen the Air Force since its previous generations had proven their capability in landing on rough airstrips or unprepared runway in Central Sulawesi when the region was hit by an earthquake.
The first C-130J-30 A-1339 Super Hercules tactical airlifter will be deployed as part of the Indonesian Air Force’s 31st Air Squadron of Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta.
Four other Super Hercules aircraft ordered by the southeast Asian nation will arrive in June, July, October, and January next year.
The delivery of the first of five aircraft ordered was earlier marked by an official handover ceremony held at the company facility in Marietta, Georgia, US, on 21 February.
The event was attended by various senior officials, including Indonesian Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo and Defence Ministry Secretary General Donny Ermawan.
Lockheed Martin Air Mobility & Maritime Missions programmes vice-president and general manager Rod McLean said: “Indonesian Air Force crews have long trusted the C-130 to support the most challenging of missions facing Indonesia and other nations in the Pacific.
“This new era of Super Hercules operations supports Indonesia in achieving mission success with a highly tailored airlift fleet that ensures Indonesian Air Force crews can support any task — anywhere, anytime — with more power, strength and capability for decades to come.” –adj/mhi/mgm (Pix: Lockheed Martin/ TNI-AU)
