Jakarta. Indonesia has not taken a final decision on expanding its fleet of Airbus’ A400M military transport planes, according to the Defense Ministry.

Indonesia already possesses two A400M aircraft, with the second plane delivered just weeks ago. Jakarta has been mulling buying four extra units of A400Ms for higher airlift capacity. The Indonesian Air Force has said that they are waiting for a decision by the Defense Ministry, but "will get ready" if the country goes ahead with the plan. 

“Our ministry is still exploring and reviewing the procurement of strategic transport aircraft,” Defense Ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait replied when asked by the Jakarta Globe about the purchase plan on Friday evening.

He admitted that past operations, including the recent disaster response, had shown how archipelagic Indonesia should boost its personnel and logistics transport capacity. The country’s first A400M — its largest military transport aircraft — went on its maiden humanitarian mission in late November to roll out aid in the flood-hit Sumatra. 

“But we have not made a final decision on which type of aircraft we will choose, as well as the possibility of adding more A400Ms. We are still making the budgetary plans and adjustments based on our defense development priorities,” Rico said.

The A400M — developed by the European aerospace giant Airbus — can carry heavy loads of up to 37 tons. It is capable of delivering troops and equipment to remote or unpaved airstrips. 

When the first A400M landed in Indonesia in early November, President Prabowo Subianto said that his country “may engage in negotiations to sign the purchase [deal] for four more units”.

Prabowo, a former army general, has actively pursued arms modernization. In 2026, his government earmarked Rp 337 trillion (approximately $19.7 billion) for the defense budget. One of the key defense deals that the Prabowo administration had clinched included the purchase contract for 48 units of the Turkish-made KAAN fighter jets. 

Indonesia inked the contract for the two A400Ms in 2021 when Prabowo was the defense minister. He also signed a letter of intent at the time to acquire another four units in the future.