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Indonesia Takes Delivery of First Airbus A400M as President Signals Talks for Four More

The heavy-lift transport broadens Indonesia’s airlift reach across remote islands, with Airbus to train and support crews as the type enters service.

Overview

  • The first A400M was formally delivered at Halim Air Force Base in Jakarta on 3 November after handover in Seville, making Indonesia the aircraft’s tenth operator.
  • It is the first of two ordered in 2021, with the second aircraft scheduled to arrive in 2026, according to Airbus.
  • Configured for cargo, troop transport, medical evacuation and humanitarian missions, the aircraft can carry up to 37 tonnes and operate from short or unpaved runways.
  • Indonesia will evaluate a roll-on/roll-off firefighting kit for the A400M that can drop up to 20,000 litres of water or retardant in a single pass.
  • President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia may open negotiations to buy four additional A400Ms, framing the platform as key to disaster response and potential overseas humanitarian tasks.