Indonesia Ministry of Defence Orders two Airbus A400Ms

The Indonesia Ministry of Defence has placed an order for two Airbus A400M aircraft in multi-role tanker and transport configuration. The contract, which will become effective in 2022, will bring the total number of A400M operators to ten nations. The agreement includes a complete maintenance and training support package. A Letter of Intent was also signed for the future acquisition of four additional A400M aircraft.

Capable of operating from rough and short runways, the A400M will strengthen the Indonesian Air Force’s airlift capabilities to rapidly respond to any crisis, demonstrated in the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the country in 2018. The A400M was the first large airlifter able to deliver heavy loads like fuel trucks and excavators as well as food, clothes, and medical supplies using a damaged and short runway in Palu (Central Sulawesi, Indonesia).

The A400M can carry heavy and outsize loads across strategic distances, deliver these into tactical locations while offering the added aerial refueling capability. An ideal solution to meet air forces’ multi-role tanker and transport aircraft requirements. With the ability to fly fast and at high and extremely low altitudes, the A400M is the ideal platform for refueling fighters and other major aircraft by means of two underwing refueling pods. Its built-in air-to-air refueling capability allows rapid reconfiguration as a tanker, making it easily adaptable to changing operational scenarios and missions. This adaptability is unique to the A400M, which can itself also be refueled in flight.