Indonesia To Receive Last Two US-granted F-16 Fighter Jets Tomorrow

The last two F-16 jet fighters granted to Indonesia by the United States are expected to arrive at Iswahjudi, Magetan, East Java, on January 12, 2018.

The aircraft are part of a total of 24 aircraft the US government has promised to Indonesia. Currently, 22 numbers of aircraft has been delivered so far, significantly strenghtening – at least in numbers – the fleet of Indonesia’s Air Force.

Commander of Iswahjudi Air Force Base, First Air Commodore Samsul Rizal, was quoted as saying by Antara news that initially, six such aircraft had been scheduled to arrive in Indonesia, but only four planes had landed on schedule.

On December 12, 2017, US had delivered four F-16 type C planes, which have improved avionics and weaponry systems than previous versions of the F-16, departed from the US on December 11 and made a stop in Guam, Hawaii, before landing at Iswahjudi on Tuesday. But the remaining two that were scheduled to arrive as a batch of six, had to undergo repair work due to mechanical issue after landing in Hawaii.

"Information released by the Ministry of Defense stated that the handover ceremony of the F-16 fighter aircraft will also be witnessed by representatives from the US government," commander stated.

Rizal explained that during the F-16 handover ceremony, all aircraft provided by the United States, both in the No 3 Squadron which based in Iswahjudi Air Force Base and those sent to No 16 Squadron 16 based in Rusmin Nuryadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, will be present at the Iswahjudi Airport.