Jakarta (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — The Indonesian Air Force’s new C-130 J Super Hercules helicopter, with tail number A-1340, embarked on its inaugural mission to deliver aid from the people of Indonesia to the people of Palestine in Gaza through an airdrop operation on Friday, March 29, 2024.
General TNI Agus Subiyanto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, officiated the departure of the C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft along with 27 TNI personnel carrying the aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on Friday, March 29, 2024.
In his address to the troops, the Commander emphasized the significance of their mission, highlighting it as a testament to the government’s trust in the TNI. “Execute this noble task with utmost responsibility. Prioritize security factors and meticulously follow all procedures, ensuring seamless coordination with all relevant parties for the success of this mission. Report any developments in the situation as per the chain of command,” stated the Commander during the departure ceremony.
The mission involves transporting aid from Indonesia to be temporarily deposited in Jordan. In Jordan, the aid, including Humanitarian Airborne Personnel Delivery Systems (PUO) and Humanitarian Airborne Cargo Delivery Systems (PUB), will be handed over to the Jordanian Air Force for distribution to Gaza. General Subiyanto explained that the PUO can drop payloads weighing up to 100 kilograms per airdrop, while the PUB can handle payloads of up to 15 tons per airdrop.
In this humanitarian mission for the people of Palestine in Gaza, a total of 900 PUO units and 50 sets of Low-Cost Low-Altitude (LCLA) equipment for humanitarian aid delivery via airdrop are being deployed. The majority of these humanitarian aids have been prepared in Jordan by the National Alms Agency (Baznas).
Leading the mission is Colonel Pnb Noto Casnoto, who serves as the Commander of Wing I at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.
The team, under Colonel Noto’s leadership, comprises 15 C-130 J Super Hercules crew members, two elite TNI AU Commando Quick Reaction Force (Kopasgat) soldiers, four support team members from air supply and maintenance units, two documentation personnel, one soldier from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, one diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and one soldier from the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).
The C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft is scheduled to travel for three days from Jakarta to Jordan, with stopovers in Aceh, Myanmar, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For the return journey from Jordan, the aircraft will transit through the UAE, India, Myanmar, Aceh, before landing back at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta. The total duration for the round trip is approximately 10 days.
