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Saturday, March 8, 2008

Indonesian Air Force

Indonesian Air Force
History

[edit] Before Indonesian Independence (1941-1945)

After World War II ended, Indonesia became the second country (after Thailand/Siam) in South East Asia to acquire an Air Force capability. Indonesian pilots fought against the colonial forces of The Netherlands during 1945-1949 with former Japanese aircraft abandoned at the end of World War II, as well aircraft of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (including Curtiss P-36 Mohawk, Brewster F2A Buffalo and Fokker D.XXI fighters; Glenn Martin B-10 bombers; Fokker C.X reconnaissance floatplanes) left before the occupation by Japan in 1941.

[edit] Indonesian War of Independence/The Netherlands 'Police Action' (1945-1949)

After the Japanese surrendered at the end of WW II, Indonesian nationalist leader Sukarno declared Indonesian Independence on August 17th, 1945. Several days later, a People's Security Force (Badan Keamanan Rakyat) was formed to undertake security duties. The Air Division of this force was also formed, using ex-Japanese planes scattered everywhere, especially in the island of Java, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (situated in 18 September 1945). The most numerous of these airplanes were the Kawanishi K5Y1 Willow (Curen) trainers, which were hastily used to train newly recruited cadets. At the time of the founding, there was only 1 Indonesian holding a multi-engine pilot license from the pre-war Dutch Flying School (but never had any opportunity to fly during the 3.5-year Japanese occupation). He was assisted by a few Japanese pilots who decided to stay in the newly born country. The new roundel was created simply by painting white on the lower part of the Japanese Hinomaru, reflecting the red and white of the Indonesian flag. The People's Security Force was then re-organized to form a formal armed force. This marked the birth of the Indonesian Air Force on April 9th, 1946. However, tensions rose as the Dutch tried to re-claim her former colony and launched an assault in July 21st, 1947, destroying most of the planes on the ground. Some planes survived though and were hidden in remote bases.

July 29, 1947 was the first air operation by the newborn air force as 3 surviving aircraft, comprising 2 Kawanishi K5Y1 "Willows"(Curen) and a Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" (the fourth aircraft, a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" (Hayabusha), should also have been involved in the raid, but as of when it was launched, the aircraft was not airworthy) conducted air raids at dawn on the Dutch Army barracks in Semarang, Salatiga and Ambarawa, dropping incendiary bombs. Tactically, these raids did not have any effect on the Dutch positions, but psychologically, it was a great success as it proved that the Indonesian Air Force still existed. The Dutch had previously claimed the destruction of Indonesian Air Force in their assault before and they never expected any attack from the sky. Dutch P-40E Warwhak tried to find all the guerrilas' plane, but they were too late to find those "ghost" aircraft which landed quickly in Maguwo Air Base, near Yogyakarta (now, Adi Sucipto Airport).

Here are the list of captured aircraft that Indonesian pro-independence guerrilas tried to save in remote areas :

Fighters

* Fokker D.XXI
* Curtiss P-36 Mohawk
* Brewster F2A Buffalo

* Vought F-4U Corsair= saved for decades in Kalijati Air Base. * Curtiss P-40E Warhawk= saved for decades in Kalijati Air Base. * Grumman F6F Hellcat= saved for decades in Kalijati Air Base. * Supermarine Spitfire= saved for decades in Kalijati Air Base.

* Kawanishi N1K1-J/N1K2-J Shiden "George"
* Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Type 2 two-seat fighter) "Nick"
* Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Type 3 Fighter) "Tony"
* Kawasaki Ki-100 Hien (Type 5 Fighter) "Tony"
* Mitsubishi A5M "Claude"

* Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen "Zeke" = saved as a display in Museum Dirgantara Udara (near Adi Sucipto Airport Yogyakarta) and saved for decades in Kalijati Air Base.

* Mitsubishi J2M Raiden "Jack"

* Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Type 1 Fighter) "Oscar" = saved as a display in Museum Dirgantara Udara (near Adi Sucipto Airport Yogyakarta).

* Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki "Tojo"
* Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Type 4 Fighter) "Frank"

Attack Aircraft

* Aichi D3A "Val"
* Aichi B7A Ryusei "Grace"
* Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs"
* Nakajima B5N (Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber) "Kate"
* Nakajima B6N Tenzan "Jill"
* Yokosuka D4Y "Judy"
* Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "Frances"

Bombers

* Glenn Martin B-10 = Flew for one or more than one mission with guerillas that used to work with KNIL (Dutch East Indies) before the occupation of Japan.
* Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" = Flew in July 29, 1947.
* Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"
* Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"
* Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally"
* Mitsubishi Ki-30 "Ann"
* Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu "Peggy"
* Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu "Helen"

Floatplanes

* Fokker C.X
* Mitsubishi F-1M "Pete"

Trainer

* Kawanishi K5Y1 "Willows" = saved as a display in Museum Dirgantara Udara (near Adi Sucipto Airport Yogyakarta), in the garden of Museum Jogja Kembali, and in Museum TNI Satria Mandala in Jakarta. Flew in July 29, 1947.

With the pressure from the United Nations, the Dutch finally agreed to acknowledge Indonesian independence following the 1949 Round Table Conference, sovereignty was officially transferred to the United States of Indonesia. The Dutch armed forces left (but remained in West Papua until 1963) and the airplanes were handed over to the Indonesians. These comprised, among others, North American P-51 Mustang, North American B-25 Mitchell, Douglas A-26 Invader, Douglas C-47 Dakota and Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, which served as the main forces of the Indonesian Air Force for the following decade. During this era, Indonesia received her first jet aircraft; De Havilland DH-115 Vampire. It was also during this era that the national roundels were changed to the red & white pentagon.
de Havilland Vampire of the Indonesian Air Force
de Havilland Vampire of the Indonesian Air Force

[edit] Action against rebellions (1950-1961)

The instability of the political condition had made Indonesian Air Force fought against several local rebels in Indonesia, such as PRRI-PERMESTA, Darul Islam-Tentara Islam Indonesia (DI/TII) and the Republic of South Maluku separatists. Several Indonesian pilot got their kill records for the first time, such as Capt. Ignatius Dewanto with his P-51 Mustang shot down AUREV/PRRI-PERMESTA's A-26 Invader (a rebel B-26 bomber was shot down on 18 May 1958 by Indonesian pilot Ignatius Dewanto over Ambon. Its pilot, an American CIA agent named Allen Lawrence Pope, was captured and put on trial in Jakarta where he exposed the deep involvement of CIA in the rebellion.). The most famous Indonesian fighter pilot during this time was Rusmin Nurjadin, who became Chief of the Air Staff in 1966 to 1969. He also known as one of the Squadron Leader of MiG-21 in 1962 to 1965 and Acrobatic Team founder in 1962 that flew MiG-17F/PF Fresco. Some of Indonesian pilots became aces as the results of their kill records in this era.

[edit] The Golden Era of Soviet Influence (1962-1965)
MiG-19 of the Indonesian Air Force
MiG-19 of the Indonesian Air Force

The rise of the communist party in Indonesia drew Indonesia closer to the Eastern Block. Several Soviet-built aircraft began to arrive in the early 60’s. Indonesia even became the first non-Soviet country to receive and operate the new Tu-16 Badger bombers. Up to 25 Tu-16 Badgers arrived and gave a great deterrent power when facing rebellions and confrontations. Several kinds of MiG also arrived comprising MiG-15UTI Fagot, MiG-17F/PF Fresco, MiG-19S Farmer and F-13 Fishbed, supported with Il-28 Beagle, Mi-4 Hound, Mi-6 Hook and An-12 Cub.Indonesia also received La-11. Some Tu-2 from China also arrived, intended to replace the B-25, but they never reached operational status. These aircraft served along with the remaining western aircraft such as B-25 Mitchell, A-26 Invader, C-47 Dakota, and P-51 Mustang. It was during this period that the Indonesian Air Force became the largest air force in the southern hemisphere.

This era also marked the last confrontation with the Dutch in Papua, before the Dutch, again under pressure of the United Nations, finally left in 1963. Indonesian Air Forces at this time had more modern and more numbers of aircraft than Dutch had. Several mission of USAF Taiwan-based Lockheed U-2 from 35th Squadron (Black Cat Squadron) flew over Maluku (Mollucas) and had reported to Dutch military that there was a big possibility that Dutch can lost their air superiority over Papua if they continued the war. Although Indonesia had won over this conflict in diplomatic way, several numbers of P-51,MiG-15,MiG-21 and C-47 downed in this short period conflict. But, the Dutch military agreed that Indonesia had more strength and powerful forces than they had ever predicted before the conflict.

In this period, Indonesian Air Force also took part in the confrontation with the Malaysian Federation (backed by the United Kingdom) along the border of Kalimantan, the Malacca Strait and near the Singapore Border. However, Indonesian lost more aircraft than had been shot down in the conflict in Papua.

Even though Indonesian Air Forces aircraft were Soviet-made during this era, Indonesia also bought 16 C-130 Hercules from the United States.

[edit] The September 30 movement and the Overthrow of Soekarno (1966-1970)

The coup attempt lead by the 30 September Movement in 1965 changed everything and a new anti-communist regime from the Army, led by Major General Suharto, took power. Ties with the Eastern block countries were cut, and thus support and spare parts for the planes became short. By the early 70’s most of the Eastern block planes were either grounded or scrapped. The largest air force in the southern hemisphere slowly but surely became one of the smallest. In this period, the Indonesian Air Force bought 16 units of Rockwell OV-10 Bronco for counter-intersurgency purpose. The Indonesian Air Force also took part in the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor (now Timor Leste).

[edit] Rebirth of the Indonesian Air Force (1970-1980)

Indonesia recovered soon by receiving ex-Royal Australian Air Force CAC Sabres to replace their MiG-21's.

Indonesia then purchased BAe Hawk Mk 53s from United Kingdom in the 1970's.

[edit] The Influence of Western Products (1980-1998)

Indonesia received 32 ex-Israeli A-4 Skyhawks between 1980 and 1982.. In 1982, Indonesia purchased 16 Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II from the United States to replace their North American Sabre's. These were upgraded in Belguim from 1995. After a tight competition for a new fighter bomber with Dassault Mirage 2000 from France during 1986 to 1988 (especially after the Indonesian Air Show in 1986), Indonesia bought 12 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Block 15 OCU as a new fighter to strengthen the Indonesian Air Force in 1989. A total of 10 F-16A and F-16B are still in service with Indonesian Air Force: 2 planes crashed in two different accidents. However, only a few of these are still serviceable. The Indonesian Air Force ordered eight BAe Hawk Mk 109s and 16 Mk 209s in 1993. The last of these was delivered by January 1997.

[edit] TNI-AU Today (1998 - present)

In 1999, the Indonesian Military staged a military intervention following the East Timor's referendum. The result is more than 1,500 civilians killed and 70 percent of Dili's infrastructure razed. In response, the United States and the European Union both imposed arms embargoes. Although, The European Union chose not to renew its ban in 2000, The United States did not lift its embargo until November of 2005.

In 2002, Indonesian Air Force continued to use all of its assets against local separatists, such as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Free Papua Movement (Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM)). In the conflict with GAM in Aceh, the Indonesian Air Force utilized OV-10Fs for counter-insurgency actions along with BAe Hawk 53 and 209 with great success.

By 2005 the Air Force was in a logistical crisis. The F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-4 Skyhawk, which were accounted for 80% of its air combat asset, were at the minimum or nil level of combat readiness.

Surprisingly, in July of 2003, The Air Force managed to scramble two fully armed F-16 to intercept The U.S. Hornets over Bawaen Island off the Eastern coast of Java island. The incident was ended peaceful through a friendly or foe hand signal. A US spokesman told the naval aircraft had sought permission to enter Indonesian airspace while escorting a US aircraft carrier. But the request arrived too late at the air force defense headquarters in Jakarta due to red tape.

In that same year, The Air Force received two Su-27 Flankers and two Su-30 Flanker-Ds from KnAPO, Russia. The purchase, however, did not include any weaponary. Furthermore, in 2006, The Indonesian Air force obtained three Sukhoi Aerospace Su-27SKM Flankers, three Sukhoi Aerospace Su-30MK2 Flanker-Ds. 7 KT-1b Korean Basic Trainers were also purchased. Further 12 KT-1b were imported in 2006.

Other plans include purchasing a number of f-16 C/D to strengthen its F-16 squadron, newer C-130Js, advanced trainer/COIN aircrafts new radars, new logitical equipments both from Western and Russian manufacturers.

To date, the Indonesian Air Force has only acquired four types of missiles - the AS-1 Kennel (KS-1 Kometa), AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick and AA-2 Atoll (Vympel K-13). There are plans to purchase more advanced air-to-air missiles, such as AA-10 Alamo (Vympel R-27), AA-11 Archer (Vympel R-73), AA-12 Adder (Vympel R-77) and AA-X-13 Arrow (Vympel R-37), as well as other air-to-ground missiles (AS-14 Kedge), anti ship missiles (Zvezda Kh-31 and Zvezda Kh-59), general purpose bombs and cluster bombs from Russia, to strengthen their 5 Su-27SK and 5 Su-30MK2.

sumber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force

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