PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia has completed the modernisation of a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft, A-1319, and handed it over to Indonesia’s Defence Ministry at its hangar in Tangerang, near Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The aircraft returned to service after structural work and avionics upgrades carried out at GMF’s facility in Banten, in a programme intended to support Indonesia’s military transport fleet and reduce reliance on overseas maintenance.
The project involved centre wing box replacement, structural integrity measures and systems upgrades, with Lockheed Martin and PT Dirgantara Indonesia also linked to the effort through the wider offset and technology-transfer arrangement. GMF described the aircraft as the first C-130 prototype to undergo major structural overhaul and avionics modernisation outside Lockheed Martin’s facilities. The work followed the company’s earlier Hercules modernisation project on A-1315 and extended its defence maintenance and repair portfolio.
Officials framed the handover as part of Indonesia’s push for greater self-reliance in military aircraft support, with the upgraded Hercules expected to remain in service for years longer after testing and certification were completed.