Indonesia Eyes C-17, A-400M As C-130 Hercules Replacement

Indonesian Air Force is planning to replace its C-130 Hercules aircraft with either Airbus A400M or Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.

The Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Agus Supriatna told ANTARA News Tuesday "We have conducted a study to replace C-130 Hercules aircraft with the new ones either from France, the US, or Russia, but the replacement depends on the government".

Defense Ministry's Head of Public Communication Brigadier General Jundan Eko Bintoro said that they have planned to replace the Hercules aircraft with either Airbus A400M from France or Boeing C-17 from the United States, as the two types of transport aircraft have large capacity. 

"The Airbus A400M and Boeing C-17 Globemaster are larger and newer, and the procurement is expected to be made during the period between 2016 and 2018," Jundan added.

"Our 2015-2019 strategic plan is to replace the F5 jet fighters and to procure heavy transport aircraft, heavy transport helicopters, and large transport helicopters," he said.