Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has successfully carried out a landmark trial by landing fighter aircraft on a section of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road in Lampung Province, marking the country’s first experiment of its kind.
Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto confirmed that the operation—conducted on Wednesday with F-16 and EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft—ran smoothly from take-off to landing. “This trial, to land fighter jets on a toll road, is the very first in Indonesia,” he said in a statement.
The two aircraft were chosen to demonstrate different operational capabilities: the EMB-314, a turboprop used for patrol and close air support, and the F-16, a supersonic frontline fighter.
Both planes returned safely, underscoring the success of the exercise.
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Officials described the trial as a milestone in strengthening Indonesia’s defense readiness, particularly in adapting civilian infrastructure for potential military use.
The initiative is part of a broader “universal defense” strategy, which integrates military and civilian resources—including ministries, toll road operators, and local residents, he said.
“Toll roads are prepared as makeshift runways if airfields can no longer be used,” Taufanto explained, highlighting the importance of resilience in national defense planning.