Hence, the Air Force has received three units of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft made by the United States company Lockheed Martin out of the five units ordered by the Defense Ministry.
"This is proof of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's commitment to improving the strength of our main equipment of arsenal system," Herindra noted at a press conference after the handover ceremony at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.
He remarked that the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft is very sophisticated and modern and expressed hope that the country would continue to get the best defense equipment to maintain the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
Similar to the earlier handover ceremonies, a tradition was followed of breaking jugs filled with flower water on the muzzle of the aircraft.
The deputy minister and other officials of the Defense Ministry and the Air Force then entered the plane for a brief check.
The third unit of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft landed at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on Wednesday (August 9, 2023) after flying for 33 hours from the Lockheed Martin factory in Marietta, Georgia, the United States, on Thursday (August 8, 2023).
The ferry flight route was no different from the previous units, namely from Marietta, San Diego, Honolulu, Kwajalein, Agana (Guam), then Jakarta.
Herindra affirmed that the Indonesian government is striving to modernize its main equipment of arsenal system, so another C-130J Super Hercules aircraft may be purchased in the future.
The fourth and fifth units of the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in October 2023 and January 2024, respectively.
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Translator: Genta M, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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