The minister made the remark after conducting a handover procession of the aircraft to National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta, Wednesday.
According to Subianto, the knowledge transfer has been conducted since the purchase of the aircraft's earlier models, such as the Air Force's C-130H Hercules A-1315 that had been handed over to Indonesia after the maintenance process was completed.
"The Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) will be carried out in Indonesia, as (the entire process) had previously been carried out in Indonesia," Subianto told the media after the procession.
He admitted to the fact that maintenance of the A-1315 aircraft was replete with challenges, and it was conducted in Indonesia for the first time.
The maintenance was conducted by state-owned enterprise PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aerosia (GMF).
"This is a heavy overhaul. The replacement of the wing box server is very difficult, and it was the first time we have done it in Indonesia," the minister explained.
Earlier, Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, had stated that not all countries outside the United States, where Lockheed Martin is based, are allowed to conduct maintenance of the C-130H Hercules A-1315 aircraft.
"Because of the US' trust in our state-owned enterprise, we can do it (maintenance)," Prasetyo remarked while adding that maintaining the center wing box was quite a complex and critical task.
Maintenance of the A-1315 aircraft, aged eight years, was started a few months ago and completed a month ago.
Along with the purchase of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules A-1339 aircraft, the Indonesian Air Force has sent 48 personnel, comprising 12 aviators, six loadmasters, and 30 maintenance personnel, to undergo training in airframes, propulsion, electrical, and avionics aspects, at the Lockheed Martin factory.
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Translator: Gilang G, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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