The Air Force’s first Airbus A400M heavy transport aircraft has arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta.
Departing the Airbus final assembly line in Seville, Spain, on Saturday, the aircraft with tail number A-4001 rested overnight at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before continuing its journey and arrived at Kuala Namu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Sunday. It arrived at the airbase yesterday morning.
Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Tonny M. Harjono welcomed the four Indonesian pilots and four Airbus pilots bringing the aircraft home.
Indonesia signed a contract to buy two A400M in 2021 to increase the Air Force transport capabilities for both combat missions and non-combat operations.
The second aircraft is expected to arrive early next year.
“We may negotiate so we can sign for four more units,” President Prabowo Subianto told reporters after a ceremony to inspect the arrival of the A400s yesterday.
However, Prabowo did not provide further details on the timeline of the planned negotiations. — The Jakarta Post/ANN/Reuters
