Unravelling the Confusion Over the C-130J MRO Facility at Kertajati Airport, West Java

On 13 April 2026, Indonesia and the United States agreed to establish the U.S.-Indonesia Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) at the Pentagon in Virginia. Among the MDCP agreements is military modernisation and capacity building, with the US providing assistance to strengthen Indonesia’s defence capabilities.

This assistance could take the form of defence equipment sales or enhancing Indonesia’s capabilities in defence management, weapon system maintenance, and other related areas. During their visit to the Pentagon in April 2026, Indonesia’s Defence Minister and the US Defence Secretary also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding US military aircraft overflight rights in Indonesian airspace.

A key public concern within the Indonesia-US defence cooperation is the proposed C-130J Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Kertajati Airport in Majalengka, as disclosed by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin during a parliamentary committee meeting on 19 May 2026.

The US aims to establish the facility for the latest variant of the most popular turboprop transport aircraft as a regional maintenance hub across the Asia-Pacific. Countries including South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand operate the C-130J in the region.

The questions remain: what is the true status of the C-130J MRO facility within the Indonesia-US defence partnership? Why does the US deem it crucial to establish such a facility for Lockheed Martin aircraft users in the Asia-Pacific? How does the current C-130 legacy (B/H/T) MRO business landscape look in a region predominantly oceanic? Where does Indonesia stand in the C-130 maintenance and repair market in a region that has operated the C-47 replacement since the 1960s?

The concept for the C-130J MRO facility originated solely from the US and remains in early exploratory stages, with no further discussions yet held with Indonesia.

According to credible sources cited by the author, the US has been exploring several Indonesian airports as potential sites for the C-130J MRO facility.

However, Jakarta insists that Washington’s only option is Kertajati Airport, an infrastructure requiring substantial investment and time for anyone looking to establish an MRO facility there.

To date, the airport’s commercial challenges due to catchment area issues remain a point of contention between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense.

Given these developments and the domestic controversy surrounding the proposed US-assisted C-130J MRO facility, it appears a lengthy period will be needed for both nations to reach an agreement.

As previously noted, Indonesia and the US disagree on the facility’s location. The situation grows increasingly unfavourable for the US as the early-stage discussions have become politicised domestically in Indonesia, with suspicions that the facility could serve as a US military base.

US diplomatic and defence circles are uneasy with this framing, especially as Washington seeks more regional allies in the Asia-Pacific to advance its geopolitical interests against China.

Meanwhile, several regional countries are also interested in partnering with the US to host the C-130J MRO facility, where Lockheed Martin is expected to be the primary investor or financial contributor.

Existing C-130 legacy (B/H/T) MRO facilities are present in South Korea, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

With the growing C-130J fleet in the region, the US considers it vital to establish an MRO facility capable of handling the aircraft’s four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines. With Indonesia insisting the C-130J MRO facility must be built at Kertajati Airport, will the country be overtaken by neighbouring nations in securing such investments?

If Indonesia adopts a forward-thinking approach, considering business factors alongside political ones to revitalise the commercially struggling airport, there is potential to bolster the domestic MRO industry.

PT GMF AeroAsia Tbk has built C-130 legacy MRO capabilities over recent years, securing a contract from the Ministry of Defence to modernise eight C-130H aircraft.

The Garuda Indonesia subsidiary is now developing C-130J maintenance capabilities in partnership with Marshall Group, a US company renowned for its expertise in MRO for all C-130 variants.

If the US proposal for an Indonesian C-130J MRO facility is viewed through a business lens rather than purely political terms, PT GMF AeroAsia Tbk could compete with ST Engineering and AIROD.

Considering the implementation of the US proposal regarding construction