Indonesia has ordered two A400Ms, which will potentially receive a firefighting kit, and the government plans to soon begin negotiations to purchase four more aircraft.
Indonesian Air Force (TNI Angkatan Udara) received On November 3, 2025, the first of two Airbus A400M transport aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta. The second aircraft on order is expected to arrive in 2026.
Piloted by Airbus personnel and greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, the aircraft was greeted by Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subianto, TNI-AU Chief Air Marshal M. Tonny Harjono and Defense Ministry officials who also attended the event.
Both the company and the TNI-AU have announced that they are working on possible integrating a firefighting kit on Indonesian A400Ms. In addition, Indonesia is expected to begin negotiations for four more units soon, said President Prabowo Subianto, who attended the ceremony. said journalists without providing more details about the schedule, Jakarta Post saying.
The A-4001 aircraft, with full TNI-AU markings and the 31st Air Squadron logo, took off from the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain, on November 1 under the callsign RAJA401. After fuel stops in Dubai and Medan, it finally arrived at TNI Angakatan Udara’s Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, according to Flightradar24 details shared by JATOSINT.
“Airbus A400M, Sayap Baru TNI AU di Langit Indonesia”
Traditional water salute menandai kedatangan pesewat Airbus A400M/MRTT pertama Indonesia di Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, Senin (3/11/2025). Kedatanganya disambut oleh Kasau Marsekal TNI M. Tonny Harjono, SE, MM, bersama para… pic.twitter.com/n6lI4uFGQM
— TNI Angkatan Udara (@_TNIAU) November 3, 2025
Indonesian A400M
Airbus also launched the August 1 Images of the A-4001 aircraft during its first inaugural flight, performing “a series of maneuvers to validate the handling of the aircraft and evaluate key systems.” The company also reported that the second A400M is undergoing testing at the Final Assembly Line in Seville, before moving to the paint shop.
TNI-AU’s A400M delivery also follows the service announced on October 27 that four of its crew members completed simulation training courses at the Airbus International Training Center (ITC) in Seville, Spain. Lieutenant Colonel Putut Satriya, Major Riki Sihaloho, Major Fathir M. Hadid and Captain Indra Kusuma N. completed the Full Flight Simulator (FFS), Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Mission Planning and Restitution System (MPRS) qualification course.
The service’s current transport fleet includes 20 older C-130B/H/L-100 Hercules aircraft, five C-130J Super Hercules and 12 C295/CN235 aircraft, according to the 2025 World Air Forces report, which counted figures for the end of 2024. Indonesia is also expecting 42 Dassault Rafale F4s, expected to be a future user of the KF-21 Boramae and Turkish Kaan fighters, and announced the possible acquisition of the Chinese J-10C, among other equipment, as part of a recent budget allocation of 9 billion dollars.
Airbus Defense and Space delivered the first #A400M to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize its military transportation capabilities. The heavy tactical airlift will be operated by the Indonesian Air Force. 🇮🇩
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/ThTTyDwNew
— Airbus Defense (@AirbusDefence) November 3, 2025
Significant military and HADR capabilities
In its publication The service added that, “with a payload capacity of up to 37 tons, long-range flight capabilities and multi-role functionality, the A400M will serve as the backbone of the Indonesian Air Force’s air mobility in various missions, both in Military Operations Other than Warfare (OMSP) and Military Operations for Warfare (PMO).”
The publication also quoted President Subianto, who said during the ceremony that the Indonesian National Armed Forces play a “very important role not only in safeguarding national sovereignty, but also in […] facing disasters and various humanitarian operations.” Later, Subianto also took a tour of the plane and inspected the cabin.
Jakarta Post He added that in addition to modernizing military equipment, Prabowo has also expanded the role of the military in governing the archipelago, including assistance in the agriculture and health sectors, as well as to support its ambitious free meals program.
“Pesawat A400M Tiba di Indonesia, Perkokoh Kekuatan TNI Angkatan Udara”
Pesawat Airbus A400M/MRTT TNI Angkatan Udara tiba di Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta Timur, pada Senin (3/11/2025). Pesawat dengan nomor registrarsi A-4001 ini merupakan unit pertama dari dua pesewat yang… pic.twitter.com/K4ZfShQbNK
— TNI Angkatan Udara (@_TNIAU) November 3, 2025
The Ministry of the Secretary of State saying that the A400M “will enhance the capabilities of the Indonesian Air Force in strategic air mobility and various operations, including humanitarian missions.” It can operate in “varying conditions and on unpaved runways or semi-permanent airfields.”
Selain itu, pesewat Airbus A400M/MRTT memiliki sistem terintegrasi canggih yang dirancang untuk meningkatkan kesadaran situasional dan kinerja dalam setiap penerbangan. Dengan kemampuan multirole yang mumpuni, pesewat ini tidak hanya akan memperkuat kesiapan operasional angkatan… pic.twitter.com/7D62SOWiHB
– Negara Secretariat (@KemensetnegRI) November 3, 2025
The Secretariat also called it Multifunction Tank Transport (MRTT) due to its “capabilities to refuel combat aircraft in the air”, with an autonomy of eight hours with a full tank, without refueling. The aircraft has two underwing refueling capsules powered by Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and with a hose and funnel system, as seen in the images, compatible with the Rafales that would begin to enter service in 2026.
Firefighting Modification
As mentioned above, Indonesia is studying “the possible integration of the newly developed A400M firefighting kit on board both aircraft,” Airbus said. “The modular roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) firefighting kit allows the A400M to be quickly converted into a water bomber aircraft, capable of dropping up to 20,000 liters of retardant or water in a single pass. This new capability will significantly strengthen Indonesia’s ability to respond to forest fires in its extensive and often difficult-to-access terrain.”
Look like the first #A400M for Indonesia 🇮🇩 takes off on its inaugural flight 🛫
During the flight, the aircraft performed a series of maneuvers to validate aircraft handling and evaluate key systems. We are already working on the second A400M for the Indonesian Air Force in… pic.twitter.com/2o8d18pwEr
— Airbus Defense (@AirbusDefence) August 1, 2025
Airbus had announced the June 26 the successful completion of the A400M firefighting demonstration kit at Nîmes-Garons with a series of test launches taking place in April. The independent evaluation of the kits’ effectiveness was carried out by the Entente-Valabre Research and Testing Center (CEREN).
The “cup grid tests” tested “the precise distribution and concentration of the retardant upon reaching the ground,” with the modified A400M flying at altitudes below 30 meters (98 feet) and speeds of around 230 km/hour (125 knots).
The Ro-Ro kit can be quickly installed in the cargo hold without the need for permanent modifications to the fuselage. The tanks, which can discharge 20,000 liters of fire retardant via the rear ramp, can be refilled in less than 10 minutes using standard ground pumps.
The Indonesian A400M is already configured for cargo, troop transport, MEDEVAC and HADR roles. Its aforementioned 37-ton payload can include helicopters, vehicles and relief supplies.
For an average mission of 30 tons, the A400M can fly 2,400 nautical miles, covering the entire archipelago from Jakarta. The ability to “operate on short, unpaved runways and also serve as a multi-role in-flight refueling platform” is a “force multiplier that extends the reach of the Indonesian Air Force,” Airbus added.
