US Aims to Turn Kertajati into Hercules Asia Workshop, Transport Minister: Land Is Sufficient

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Transport Minister (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the land at Kertajati Airport in West Java is adequate to support plans to develop a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre for heavy transport aircraft C-130 Hercules in the Asia region.

This was conveyed in response to the United States government’s plan to make Kertajati a maintenance hub or “workshop” for Hercules aircraft in Asia.

“The land is sufficient,” Dudy said at the Indonesian DPR building, on Thursday 21 May 2026.

Dudy explained that the plan to develop the MRO facility relates to the procurement of Hercules aircraft by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (Kementerian Pertahanan RI).

“If the Ministry of Defence intends to procure Hercules, usually they will work together, including the organisation of maintenance,” he said.

He added that if the manufacturer agrees, then further talks about building the MRO facilities at Kertajati are likely to be held.

“If indeed the manufacturer agrees then they surely will have further talks and the Kertajati land is still quite adequate, you know,” Dudy explained.

When asked about the possibility of Lockheed Martin building MRO facilities at Kertajati, the minister stressed that that option is open.

Dudy assured that the Ministry of Transport will coordinate intensively with the Ministry of Defence on the development of such facilities.

“Oh yes, of course there must be coordination; we will coordinate with Kemhan for any MRO facilities,” he said.

In addition to the Hercules MRO plan, Dudy revealed that GMF AeroAsia has also shown interest in developing facilities at Kertajati.

“Earlier I said GMF has shown interest and has begun planning; that is all for now,” he concluded.

Earlier, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin revealed that United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth offered Indonesia the opportunity to be the MRO hub for C-130 Hercules aircraft in Asia.