Jakarta. European aerospace giant Airbus said Thursday that Indonesia could use its aerial refueling aircraft A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to strengthen the country’s air force. 

Aerial refueling operations allow fuel to be transferred from one aircraft -- better known as the tanker -- to another while both are in mid-air. 

According to Airbus, its A330 MRTT can carry up to 111 tons of fuel, which the company claims is the highest capacity of any tanker aircraft. During a four-hour loitering mission, the A330 MRTT can offload 50,000 kilograms of fuel to aircraft. It can also hold up to 300 passengers or 45,000 kilograms of cargo. As Jakarta eyes military modernization, Airbus seeks to supply the Indonesian Air Force with its A330 MRTT.

“A tanker is a pivotal asset for the country’s air power. … It is suitable for national security missions, as well as regional or international missions like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” Dani Adriananta, Airbus’ chief representative for Indonesia, told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.

Last August, the Indonesian Air Force carried out air-to-air refueling operations using Australia’s A330 MRTT, according to Dani. 

Although Airbus claimed that the A330 MRTT had “transformative potential” to boost the military’s air capabilities, Dani did not disclose the company’s ongoing discussions with the Defense Ministry. He refused to say how much a unit cost, and how many A330 MRTT Indonesia had purchased or was planning to buy. 

In September 2023, the Defense Ministry claimed that there was already an “effective contract” for Airbus’ A330 MRTT. The government at the time did not go into any details. 

Last year, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called for military modernization, while also asking the government to remain on budget. The government has allocated Rp 139.3 trillion ($8.5 billion) for the Defense Ministry to spend throughout 2024. The House of Representatives not long ago had given its nod to increase the ministry’s budget to Rp 155 trillion next year. About Rp 18 trillion will go to the Indonesian Air Force. In 2025, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto would have already served as president. His inauguration ceremony is slated for this October. 

Airbus revealed that it had recorded 82 orders placed for the A330 MRTT so far. These orders came from Australia, Canada, and Singapore, to name a few.

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