Airbus has confirmed that the first A400M heavy transport aircraft for Indonesia will be delivered ahead of schedule, arriving in November 2025. This is earlier than the previously planned delivery date at the end of the year. A second unit is scheduled to follow in the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta ahead of the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition, Zakir Hamid, Head of Region Asia Pacific at Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the first aircraft for Indonesia, bearing the serial number MSN 148, has exited Airbus’s paint hangar in Seville, Spain, and is currently undergoing ground testing in preparation for its maiden flight. The aircraft features the distinctive livery of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), including a grey colour scheme similar to that of the C-130 Hercules, along with markings such as “TNI Angkatan Udara”, “Indonesian Air Force”, the 31st Air Squadron emblem, and the registration number A-4001 on the vertical stabiliser.
Meanwhile, the second aircraft (MSN 150) has successfully completed its “power-on” stage—activation of its electrical systems—and is now undergoing hydraulic system testing and flight crew simulation procedures.
Both A400M aircraft will be based at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta and operated by the Indonesian Air Force’s 31st Air Squadron. Airbus has reiterated its commitment to working with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and TNI AU to ensure a smooth delivery process and operational entry.
Indonesia ordered two A400M units in 2021 during the Dubai Airshow. Once operational, the country will become the second in the Asia-Pacific region, after Malaysia, and the tenth globally to operate the next-generation military airlifter developed by Airbus.
Designed to carry loads of up to 37 tonnes, the A400M can transport large cargo such as helicopters or armoured vehicles and can operate in a wide range of environments. Airbus considers the aircraft well-suited to an archipelagic country like Indonesia, supporting a range of strategic missions including tactical transport, humanitarian aid, medical evacuation, and aerial refuelling.
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