The OV-10 Bronco started her service in Indonesia on 28 September 1976 when 16 OV-10Fs replaced 3rd Air Squadron’s P-51D Mustang.[3]
The OV-10 saw combat in East Timor where it was used as attack aircraft, some OV-10s were piloted by American pilots in bombing raids against Fretilin.[4][5]
In 1990, the Bronco was re-assigned to the 1st Air Squadron and to the 21st Air Squadron later, while the new F-16s were assigned to 3rd Air Squadron. After a fatal crash in 2007, all OV-10 were retired and replaced by EMB-314 Super Tucano.[6][7]
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Indonesian F-16A/B procurement program was named the "Peace Bima Sena I". Four F-5 Tiger II Pilots Lt. Col. Wartoyo (Marsdya TNI), Major Basri Sidehabi (Marsdya TNI), Major Eris Herryanto (Marsdya TNI), and Major Rodi Suprasojo (Marsda TNI).
Those who had more than 1,000 flying hours departed Indonesia at the end of 1988. They went to the US to receive education and training on the characteristics and uniqueness of aircraft, maneuvers, how to fly, and education to become instructors for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Apart from the four pilots, 63 technicians also departed after going through the selection process.
The first 2 F-16 landed at Iswahyudi on December 11 1989, after going through a long and tiring journey from the manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Dallas. The total number of F-16A/B block 15 Operational Capabilities Upgrade (OCU) aircraft owned by the Indonesian Air Force is 12 aircraft. The first pilot conversions opened five months later in April 1990 and by 1999, the 3rd squadron had 31 F-16 pilots.
The 3rd Air Squadron is involved in the 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh. F-16s were deployed as a 'Shock Therapy' where the F-16s would fly low over enemy positions at a high speed as a show of force.[citation needed]
3rd squadron took part in various air defense operations, operational command level exercises, force level exercises and joint exercises. Joint exercises that have been carried out are Pitch Black exercise in Australia, Elang Thainesia with Thailand, Elang Ausindo with Australia, Cope West with US PACAF, Elang Malindo with Malaysia and Elang Indopura with Singapore as well as visits to friendly countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Australia.[8]
F-16 grant from the US Government
3rd squadron's F-16AM after Falcon STAR and Enhanced Midlife Upgrade of the F-16s from Peace Bimasena I with tail art to commemorate the program, the upgrade conducted in Indonesia by the 042nd Technical Squadron.
In 2011 it was announced that Indonesia will acquire 24 regenerated ex-USAF F-16s along with spare parts, donated by the Obama administration, Indonesia pays under $750 Million for upgrades and regeneration, the program was named "Peace Bimasena II".[9]
The upgrades brought the F-16s up from the Block 25 to the Block 52 standard, this includes 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.[10][11]
The regenerated F-16s consisted of 19 single seat C variant and 5 double seat D variant delivered to Iswahjudi Air Force Base on July 20 2014 from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, stopping in Guam, Hawaii, Alaska and refueled numerous time in the air. 16 of the F-16s placed in 16th Air Squadron based in Pekanbaru and 8 F-16 were placed in the 3rd Squadron, however since september 2022, all F-16C/D from the 3rd Air Squadron were moved to the 14th Air Squadron based in Iswahjudi to fill gap in the squadron, this also include some F-16s from the 16th Air Squadron.[2]
The first 3 F-16 under this program landed at Iswahjudi AFB on 25 July 2014.[8]
Elang Biru aerobatic team
The Aerobatic Team Elang Biru or Blue Falcon was formed in 1994 and active in 1995. The team flies 6 F-16 from the 3rd squadron in a special blue and yellow livery with red and white stripes and is one of only 3 F-16 aerobatics team, the other being USAFThunderbirds and RSAFBlack Knights.
The Blue Falcon pilots were invited by USAFThunderbirds aerobatic team to witness their performance at Singapore Airshow 1994, during the airshow, they had the opportunity to discuss with Thunderbirds pilots about their aerobatic training methods, from that discussion, they realized forming an aerobatic team is not easy. Regardless, preparations for the formation of the Blue Falcon aerobatic team were still being carried out by preparing six F-16, consisting of four aircraft as the main formation and two aircraft as solo aircraft.[1][12][13]
By imitating the maneuvers of The Thunderbirds via video, the 3rd Air Squadron team practiced and studied the maneuvers that would be performed for four months. They made their first debut in April 1995 during the Air Force's 49th anniversary, then again in October 1995 during the TNI 50th anniversary, both were performed at Halim Air Force Base, they performed at Indonesian Air Show (IAS) in 1996 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. The team made its international debut in Singapore Air Show 1996.[1][12][13]
To increase the ability and variation of aerobatics, in June 1995 they invited three Thunderbirds instructors, they were Major Peter McCaffrey (solo specialist), Captain Matthew E. Byrd (wing specialist) and Colonel Steve "boss" Trent, former Leader of The Thunderbirds. Unfortunately, the training could only be attended by four 3rd Air Squadron pilots, this is because one of the members went to the US to receive education and another were reassigned to the 14th Air Squadron to fly the F-5E/F Tiger II. After the training, they performed at the TNI 50th anniversary. Before they performed at Indonesian Air Show 1996, they performed at a small airshow in their base at Iswahyudi AFB.[1][12][13]
The name Blue Falcon came from the aircraft they fly, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, while Blue is the color of the sky and the color that reflects the Air Force, Elang Biru is the Indonesianization of Blue Falcon. Unfortunately, the team only existed for just over 5 years as the team was disbanded in 2000.[1][12][13]
The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force (USAF). The Thunderbirds, as they are popularly known, are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created 71 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946.
Surya Kiran is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and is a part of the No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force. The team is based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka and has performed numerous demonstrations. The squadron was initially composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with BAE Hawk Mk.132 aircraft in 2015.
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.
A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting. A fighter pilot with at least five air-to-air kills becomes known as an ace.
The Indonesian Air Force sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF, is the aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The Indonesian Air Force is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Its order of battle is split into three Air Operations Commands. Most of its airbases are located on the island of Java. The Indonesian Air Force also has its ground force unit, called Air Force Quick Reaction Force Command (Kopasgat). The corps is also known as the "Orange Berets" due to the distinctive color of their service headgear.
The 174th Attack Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York. The 174th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 119th Wing is a composite unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard, stationed at Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota. If activated to federal service, elements of the Wing are gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 188th Wing is a unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard, stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 188th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The Black Knights is the official aerobatics team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) featuring six F-16Cs Fighting Falcon in formation flight. The Black Knights' emblem is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft and the team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which are painted in red and white—the national colours of Singapore.
The PAF Blue Diamonds is the national aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Assigned to the 5th Fighter Wing, the unit is based at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Founded in 1952, the Blue Diamonds is one of oldest formal flying aerobatic teams in the world, along with United States Air Force Thunderbirds founded in 1953, the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946, and the Patrouille de France of the French Air Force formed in 1931. The Blue Diamonds has been inactive since 2005.
The 184th Attack Squadron is a unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Wing located at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 184th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. In June 2014 the squadron transitioned from A-10C to the MQ-9.
Iswahjudi Air Force Base, Iswahjudi Airport, Iswahjudi Airbase or Iswahyudi is an airbase operated by the Indonesian Air Force. It is the main base of several squadrons of Indonesian jet fighters, including:
The Jupiter Aerobatic Team is the current Indonesian Air Force aerobatic display team flying with six KT-1B Wongbee aircraft painted in red and white. The team is drawn from the Skadik 102, Adisucipto International Airport, Yogyakarta. The Jupiter team aircraft are equipped with white smoke generators. The pilots of the "Jupiter Aerobatic Team (JAT)" are all instructors. The team is named "JUPITER" after the call-sign of Indonesian Air Force instructors.
The National Air Operations Command is one of the Principal Operational Commands of the Indonesian Air Force that is responsible for air operations including air surveillance, early warning system, air supremacy, and air defense of Indonesian airspace. Koopsudnas plays a vital part for air defense capability of the Republic of Indonesia. This command is held by a three-star air force marshal.
The 3rd Air Wing is a unit of the Indonesian Air Force tasked with providing technical assistance in the framework of the operational readiness of air squadron crews within its ranks. 3rd Air Wing is under the control of Iswahjudi Air Force Base, 2nd Air Operations Command, based in Maospati, Magetan Regency, East Java.
Operation Alpha was a covert operation carried out by the Indonesian Air Force between 1979-1982 to acquire 30 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk light combat aircraft from the Israeli Air Force.
16th Air Squadron 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. The 16th Air Squadron pilots have the callsign of Rydder meaning Knight, and for the groundcrews the callsign of Rubicon.
The 14th Air Squadron is a Fighter Squadron of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) under the command of the 3rd Air Wing, headquartered in Iswahjudi Air Force Base, Maospati, Magetan Regency, East Java.
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