Indonesian Air Force Continues Modernisation with New Fighter Jets and Missile Systems
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (Kasau), Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, has confirmed that the modernisation of the TNI AU’s primary weapon systems (alutsista) is being continuously strengthened to enhance national air defence. The effort has received full support from President Prabowo Subianto through the procurement of various strategic assets, ranging from fighter jets and transport aircraft to helicopters, radars, and missile systems.
“We are very grateful to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Prabowo Subianto, for his immense attention to the Air Force, so much so that he is completing and modernising the Air Force’s alutsista. From fighter jets, then transport aircraft with various types of helicopters, to radars and missiles, both air-to-air and ground-to-air,” Tonny said during a visit to the Air Force Academy (AAU) complex in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (29/7/2026).
Tonny explained that a number of new assets have already begun to be received by the TNI AU. These include six Rafale fighter jets, six Falcon aircraft, and two A400M transport aircraft. In addition, the TNI AU is also preparing two new radars to be stationed in Takalar, South Sulawesi, and Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan.
The presence of these new radars will strengthen the TNI AU’s detection capability, allowing areas that were previously limited in radar coverage, or blind spots, to be minimised. “Hopefully, in the near future, they can begin operating so that there are no more blind spots or areas that cannot be detected by our radar,” he said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that Indonesia’s airspace currently remains under surveillance through the integration of TNI AU radars with various agencies, such as the Ministry of Transportation, AirNav Indonesia, and Angkasa Pura. Looking ahead, the hope is that the modernisation of alutsista will enable the TNI AU to have a more independent surveillance capability while further strengthening the national air defence system.
“We integrate them so that they can be viewed in one big picture. There is currently no area in Indonesia that is not under surveillance. So everything is monitored, but in the future, we in the Air Force will have our own capability,” he stated.