Defence Ministry states Hercules MRO facility still in planning phase

Defence Ministry states that the construction of a C-130 Hercules maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at Kertajati Airport in Majalengka Regency, West Java, is still in the planning phase. It confirms there is no set deadline for when construction will begin. “The government is still in the planning and concept finalisation stage regarding the development of the national aerospace ecosystem in the Kertajati area, including the phased development of MRO facilities for both commercial and military needs,” said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait. Rico explained that the Ministry must consider many aspects before starting MRO construction, such as the technical terms of cooperation agreements, facility construction specifics, and the management model to be used. All these aspects, he added, must be carefully weighed to ensure MRO operations align with national interests. Additionally, the construction and operation of the MRO must involve the domestic defence industry. This way, the MRO can boost the national economy while strengthening the quality of domestic defence industry products. Previously, the government considered the MRO plan after Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. During the meeting at the Pentagon in the United States, Pete expressed his intention to establish a Hercules aircraft maintenance centre in Asia. Sjafrie then proposed this to President Prabowo Subianto, who subsequently suggested Kertajati Airport as the location for the Hercules MRO facility.