Indonesia’s air force has taken delivery of its second Airbus A400M transport plane, registered A-4002, after the aircraft followed an unusual western route to avoid Middle East airspace closures.
The plane touched down at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on March 28, 2026, wrapping up a 2021 order for two units initiated by then-Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. Unlike the first A400M, which arrived via Dubai and Medan in November 2025, A-4002 left Seville on March 22. It crossed the Atlantic to St. John’s in Canada, then headed over the Pacific with stops in Japan, Merauke in Papua, and Tarakan before landing in the capital. Regional conflicts forced this extended path across two oceans.
Assigned to Squadron 31, the strategic airlift unit at Halim, the new arrival brings hose-and-drogue refueling pods. This upgrade enables tanker operations, unlike the initial aircraft’s setup. The A400M suits Indonesia’s vast archipelago, handling short unpaved runways and hauling 37 tonnes over 2,400 nautical miles from Jakarta. Officials are testing a modular firefighting system for both planes to combat wildfires with 20,000-liter drops.
While the pair completes the current contract, a letter of intent for four more A400Ms from the same Dubai Airshow lingers. President Prabowo Subianto has hinted at upcoming talks, though no firm order exists yet.