The Indonesia Air Force (TNI AU) has begun a critical aircraft maintenance program in cooperation with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), marking a new phase of technical collaboration between the two nations in defense aviation.

A delegation from KAI visited the TNI AU’s 10thMaintenance Depot on June 19, 2025 for an inspection and structural stripping of a KT-1B Woongbee training aircraft at the 11th Maintenance Squadron located at the Husein Sastranegara Airbase in Bandung, West Java.

The KT-1B is a Korean-made basic training aircraft widely used in pilot education by TNI AU. The visit by KAI technicians forms part of the longstanding partnership between the South Korean aircraft manufacturer and Indonesia’s Air Force, dating back to the initial procurement of KT-1B units.

According to Commander of the 10th Maintenance Depot, Colonel Ruhimat, the inspection aims to assess the aircraft’s structural integrity and operational readiness through a complete dismantling and technical review.

“We welcome the presence of the KAI team in supporting this essential maintenance phase. Their expertise ensures the process aligns with established safety and quality standards,” Ruhimat said on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

The joint maintenance project, referred to as “stripping,” involves dismantling aircraft components for comprehensive evaluation a crucial process in maintaining operational safety and extending aircraft service life.

The initiative also serves as a platform for knowledge exchange between Indonesian Air Force technicians and their Korean counterparts. The involvement of KAI is expected to bolster the capabilities of TNI AU’s maintenance personnel in handling foreign-manufactured aircraft.

In attendance during the maintenance activities were KAI technical representatives, senior officers of the 10thMaintenance Depot, and personnel from the 11thMaintenance Squadron who are directly engaged in the inspection tasks.

The process is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks, with an emphasis on precision, efficiency, and flight safety. Once finalized, the upgraded KT-1B is expected to resume its role in flight training missions under improved conditions.

“This is more than routine maintenance − it’s a reinforcement of our commitment to ensuring the reliability of our strategic air assets and a reflection of our growing technical autonomy,” Ruhimat concluded.