Minister of Defence Prepares Toll Roads in Java for Aircraft Landings

The Ministry of Defence is studying the use of national strategic infrastructure, such as toll roads in Java, to support the country’s defence interests. This follows a successful trial landing of a fighter jet on the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road’s Simpang Pematang section in Lampung in February 2026. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin raised the idea during a working visit to the national car and electric motorcycle project development area in Subang, West Java, on Tuesday (21/6/2026). “During this review, we also discussed the utilisation of toll road infrastructure for defence purposes, including preparing certain sections as temporary runways for aircraft in emergency conditions,” Minister Sjafrie said. Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, elaborated that the concept involves leveraging national strategic infrastructure to support state defence in specific situations, including the possible use of toll road sections as temporary airstrips when required under emergency conditions. He noted that such defence planning is common practice in many countries. Rico stated that the toll road sections currently under review in Java are the Subang toll road and the Jakarta-Cikampek II elevated toll road. “It still requires further study together with relevant ministries and agencies. So it is not specific to one particular toll road section. The Subang toll road or Japek II are still being studied,” Rico confirmed.