JAKARTA: The Air Force has successfully tested the domestically produced BNT-250 bomb, a NATO-standard live bomb weighing 250 kilograms, thus reducing its reliance on Mk. 82 bombs, imported from the United States.
Pilots from the 3rd Air Squadron at Iswahjudi Air Force Base (AFB) in Magetan, East Java, flew two F-16 AM jet fighters in the test at Pandanwangi Air Weapons Range in Lumajang, East Java, carrying a total of 12 BNT-250 bombs on Nov. 18.
Test pilots Lt. Col. Anwar “Weasel” Sovie flew aircraft TS-1610 and Maj. Windi “Lion” Darmawan flew the TS-1612. Each F-16 carried six BNT-250 bombs and they conducted a total of eight bombing rounds by dropping one bomb each and another two rounds releasing two bombs each simultaneously.
A third aircraft, TS-1603, a dual-seater F-16 BM, acted as spotter and cameraman to record the bombing process.
Iswahjudi AFB commander Air Cdre. Muchtadi Anjar Legowo said the trial was aimed at collecting technical data to assess feasibility and operational use. “The test was carried out to measure the function, accuracy and integration of the BNT-250 bomb on the F-16 Fighting Falcon of 3rd Air Squadron,” Legowo said on Nov. 18.
The BNT-250 is Indonesia’s original NATO-standard live bomb, jointly manufactured by private arms maker PT Sari Bahari in Malang, East Java, and state-owned explosive maker PT Dahana, under the supervision of the Air Force Research and Development Agency (Dislitbang AU).
Until now, Indonesian fighter pilots had relied on US-made Mk. 82 bombs for aerial bombing exercises. A BNT-250 live bomb is released from an F-16 AM from the 3rd Air Squadron over the Pandanwangi Air Weapons Range in Lumajang, East Java, on Nov. 18, 2025.
Development of the BNT-250 began in 2022, with a prototype first tested in March, leading to the operational trial this month. During the test, pilots employed two methods, the continuously computed impact point (CCIP) and the continuously computed release point (CCRP).
According to Sari Bahari vice president director Putra Prathama Nugraha, 10 bombs were dropped using the CCIP method, which calculates the impact point in real time and displays it on the aircraft’s head-up display (HUD).
“This is usually done through dive attacks, where the aircraft nose is directed toward the target before release. In the trial, pilots released bombs from several different dive angles,” Putra said in Malang on Sunday (Nov 23).
The remaining two bombs were dropped using the CCRP method, in which the aircraft’s computer automatically calculates the release point. Pilots maintain level flight, and the bomb is released automatically once the system signals the correct moment.
“All bombs were released from altitudes ranging between 1,800 feet [550 meters] and 10,000 feet, with accuracy within 30 m of the target. This is a source of pride for us, proving that locally produced defense equipment meets high standards and can compete with foreign products. With this result, we are no longer dependent on imports,” Putra said.
The BNT-250, with a technical specification of 250–270 kg in weight, 2,300 millimeters in length and 273 mm in diameter, is now declared operational. It has a domestic content level (TKDN) of more than 70 per cent, enabling mass production in Indonesia.
Dahana’s technology and development director Yusep Nugraha Rubani expressed pride in the achievement. “We are grateful for the full support and solid cooperation from Dislitbang AU, Iswahjudi AFB and Sari Bahari. This synergy is key to producing military-standard equipment that represents national sovereignty,” Rubani said.
Several Asean countries have already expressed interest in the BNT-250. Previously, Vietnam purchased Indonesia’s P-100 series bombs, and now verbal interest has been expressed in the BNT-250 as well.
“This demonstrates that Indonesian defense products are competitive internationally,” Nugraha added. Sari Bahari has also developed a range of so-called “dumb” bombs compatible with both Russian and NATO-standard aircraft, including the P-100, P-250, P-500 and P-100M for Russian aircraft, and the BNL-125, BNL-250, BNM-250 and BNT-250 for NATO aircraft, available in both practice and live versions.
The company is currently developing the B250ST “smart” bomb, equipped with a glide kit that allows release from up to 70 kilometres. Sari Bahari exported hundreds of P-100 series bombs to the Vietnamese Air Force in August 2023. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
