Indonesia mulls buying more Airbus military aircraft

Indonesia may purchase four additional Airbus A400M military transport aircraft as part of a broader effort to modernize its armed forces, President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday.

Speaking at a military airbase in Jakarta, Prabowo made the remarks during the arrival ceremony of Indonesia’s first A400M airlifter, one of two aircraft ordered under a 2021 contract with Airbus. “We might negotiate to sign (a deal) for four more units,” the president told reporters, though he did not specify a timeline for the potential purchase.

Under the existing contract, Indonesia is expected to receive its second A400M multi-role tanker transport aircraft next year. The European-built aircraft, among the world’s most advanced military transporters, can carry up to 37 tonnes of cargo — including helicopters, vehicles, and relief supplies. For an average payload of 30 tonnes, it has a range of around 2,400 nautical miles, allowing it to cover the entire Indonesian archipelago from Jakarta.

Prabowo said the aircraft would primarily be used for humanitarian purposes, including medical evacuations and disaster relief. “The A400M will be mostly used to evacuate injured victims of disasters, but it can also participate in humanitarian missions overseas,” he said, citing the Gaza Strip as an example.

He added that he had ordered the Indonesian military to expand its number of medical battalions to better support both domestic and international relief efforts.

The A400M also has the capability to be converted into a water bomber, carrying up to 20,000 litres of water or fire retardant in a single drop — a valuable asset for Indonesia, which regularly battles large-scale forest fires.

Prabowo, a former general who served as defence minister before winning the presidency last year, has pledged to overhaul Indonesia’s ageing military arsenal. In July, Jakarta signed a deal with Turkey to acquire 48 Kaan fighter jets, part of a broader strategy to bolster the nation’s air power and defence readiness.

The potential expansion of the A400M fleet would further strengthen Indonesia’s ability to respond swiftly to both humanitarian crises and national security challenges.