Indonesian Air Force Plans to Replace Hercules Aircraft

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Agus Supriatna revealed that he has conducted a study to replace Hercules aircraft with new transport aircraft.

"We have conducted a study to replace Hercules aircraft with the new ones either from France, the United States, or Russia, but the replacement depends on the government," Supriatna stated at the Cilangkap Air Force Headquarters in East Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Supriatna, the result of the study has been submitted to the Ministry of Defense to arrive at a decision on whether to replace the Hercules aircraft with the new transport aircraft.

"Our 2015-2019 strategic plan is to replace the F5 jet fighters and to procure heavy transport aircraft, heavy transport helicopters, and large transport helicopters," he affirmed.

When contacted separately, Defense Ministry's Head of Public Communication Brigadier General Jundan Eko Bintoro justified the plan to replace the Hercules aircraft with either Airbus A400M from France or Boeing C-17 from the United States, as the two types of transport aircraft have large capacity.

"The Airbus A400M and Boeing C-17 are larger and newer, and the procurement is expected to be made during the period between 2016 and 2018," Jundan added. (*)