West Java Governor Reaffirms Kertajati Airport to Become National Defence Industry Hub

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has once again emphasised a new direction for the West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati in Majalengka Regency, to be transformed into a national defence industry integration centre, coinciding with the reopening of commercial flights at Husein Sastranegara Airport. The plan to establish a domestic military industry cluster is being prepared to accommodate the consolidation of defence state-owned enterprises (BUMN) such as PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and PT Pindad, in order to support operational bases and military aircraft assembly. “For Kertajati Airport, we have indeed been continuously holding discussions, including with the President during his visit to Karawang, expressing our hope that Kertajati Airport becomes a domestic defence industry centre,” Dedi said following the inauguration of the Bandung Basin BRT project at the Leuwipanjang Terminal in Bandung on Wednesday. Dedi stressed that this functional role division is a tactical solution to ensure BIJB Kertajati remains optimally supporting the nation’s strategic ecosystem, while short and medium-haul commercial flights are refocused on Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung City. At the same location, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the central government fully supports the West Java Governor’s idea. According to him, the central government is continuing to coordinate thoroughly so that the division of roles between Kertajati Airport and Husein Airport provides optimal economic and geopolitical impact for the region. Dudy is confident that the synergy between the central government and the West Java Provincial Government in reorganising the function of BIJB Kertajati as a defence equipment industry base will produce the best decisions for national connectivity and resilience.