16th Air Squadron | |
---|---|
Skadron Udara 16 | |
Active | 17 October 2014 |
Country | Indonesia |
Branch | Indonesian Air Force |
Type | Fighter |
Part of | 6th Air Wing |
Garrison/HQ | Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base |
Nickname(s) | Rydders (Pilots) [1] Rubicon (Groundcrews) |
Motto(s) | "Vijayakantaka Abhyasti Virayate" lit. 'A superior and mighty warrior of victory' (Excel and Valiant) |
Website | https://www.instagram.com/skadronudara16/ |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Maj. Anugrah Gigih Pratama |
Insignia | |
16th Air Squadron's Patch | |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon |
16th Air Squadron (Indonesian: Skadron Udara 16 or Skadud 16 or SkU 16) is a fighter squadron under the command of the 6th Air Wing based in Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru. The 16th Air Squadron was inaugurated by the Indonesian president and Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia on October 17, 2014. The 16th Air Squadron is one of Indonesia's three F-16 squadron. [2] [3] The 16th Air Squadron pilots have the callsign of Rydder meaning Knight, and for the groundcrews the callsign of Rubicon. [4]
See also: F-16 grant from the US Government
"Peace Bima Sena II" program was a program to acquire 24 Ex-USAF F-16C/D Fighting Falcon for the Indonesian Air Force in 2012-2018, [5] In 2011 it was announced that Indonesia will acquire 24 regenerated ex-USAF F-16s along with spare parts, granted by the Obama administration, Indonesia pays under $750 Million for upgrades and regeneration, the program was named "Peace Bimasena II". The Hill Air Force Base's Ogden Air Logistics Complex located in Utah carried out the upgrades. The upgrades brought the F-16s up from the Block 25 to the Block 52 standard with the Indonesian press reporting an upgraded AN/APG-68 (V) fire control radar and Block 52 Link 16 datalink, AN/ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System, ALR-69 Class IV Radar Warning Receiver, a Modular Mission Computer Version 5 and ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser Set. [6] The Air Squadron uses the F-16C/D Block 52ID, also sometimes referred to as Block 25 Advanced
However one of the F-16 from this program, with tail number TS-1643 which was flown by Lieutenant Firman Dwi Cahyono exploded and burned during take off at Halim Perdanakusuma AFB in Jakarta.The pilot managed to escape and survived. TS-1643 is now on display at the 16th Air Squadron's base. [7]
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft with over 4,600 built since 1976. Although no longer purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
The United States Air Force (USAF), four of its NATO partners, and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a major non-NATO US ally, are the primary operators of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. With the evolution of sales under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts, many other air forces have also acquired F-16s. Most nations that have bought F-16s continue to use them as of 2010.
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