Indonesia received its first Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft on Monday, November 3, 2025, marking a major step in modernizing the country’s airlift and aerial refueling capabilities.

President Prabowo Subianto handed over the aircraft symbolically to Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto in a ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta. The A400M, the largest transport aircraft ever operated by the Indonesian Air Force, landed at the base earlier that morning and was greeted with a traditional water salute.

General Agus subsequently passed the symbolic keys to Air Force Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, who led the welcoming ceremony attended by senior officials including Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Muhammad Herindra.

“This aircraft represents a significant leap in Indonesia’s strategic airlift capability,” Prabowo said, noting that the A400M will play a key role in logistics operations, disaster response, and national defense missions.

The newly arrived aircraft, tail number A-4001, flew from Spain to Indonesia with a crew of nine five foreign instructors and four Indonesian Air Force pilots: Lieutenant Colonel Putut Satriya, Major Riki Sihaloho, Major Fathir M. Hadid, and Captain Indra Kusuma. The four pilots are among 22 Air Force personnel who completed training in Spain earlier this year.

The A400M, produced by Airbus Defence and Space, can carry up to 37 tons of cargo and operate from short or unpaved runways, a feature seen as crucial for Indonesia’s archipelagic geography and frequent disaster response operations. The aircraft can also function as an aerial refueling tanker, extending the range and endurance of the Air Force’s air operations.

The government ordered two A400Ms under a contract signed at the Dubai Airshow 2021, which became effective in 2022. The deal includes a comprehensive maintenance and training support package. The second unit is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

“This is a truly historic milestone that puts Indonesia among a very exclusive group of A400M operators,” President of Airbus Asia-Pacific, Anand Stanley, who attended the handover ceremony, said.

He added that beyond the delivery, Airbus remains committed to deepening its long-term industrial partnership in Indonesia’s defense sector.

Airbus is currently working with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF), and Pertamina to strengthen its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) collaboration, as well as to develop the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Indonesia.

The newly inducted aircraft will be operated by 31st Air Squadron based at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, and is expected to play a central role in both military and humanitarian missions across the country’s vast territory.

Former Air Force Chief of Staff Chappy Hakim said the arrival of Indonesia’s Airbus A400M transport aircraft represents more than just a modernization of military assets, it reflects a broader strategic awareness of future defense challenges that are increasingly complex, multidimensional, and time-sensitive.

“This step is not merely about upgrading our air fleet,l. It reflects the realization that future defense challenges will be multidimensional and will demand the ability to project power rapidly and effectively,” Chappy said in a statement on Monday, Nov 3.

He emphasized that for an archipelagic nation like Indonesia, logistical agility is a critical differentiator in determining the country’s readiness to respond to crises, whether humanitarian operations, natural disasters, or potential conflicts in border regions.

“In a country made up of more than 17,000 islands, the ability to move troops, heavy equipment, and essential supplies quickly across vast distances is not just an advantage, it is a necessity,” Chappy said.