Indonesia plans to turn underused airport into defence industry hub

Indonesia's West Java provincial government has proposed transforming the underused Kertajati International Airport into a national defence industry hub, shifting the facility's focus from commercial aviation to military aerospace and defence production.

Under the proposal, Kertajati Airport in Majalengka would serve as a center for military aircraft operations, aircraft assembly, and facilities for state-owned defence companies, as Indonesian media reports.

The initiative would bring together Indonesia's aerospace manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia and defence producer Pindad, which manufactures military vehicles, weapons, and ammunition.

Kertajati International Airport, also known as West Java International Airport, opened in 2018 to serve Indonesia's most populous province, home to more than 50 million people. Despite being built with one of the country's longest runways and designed to accommodate millions of passengers annually, the airport has struggled to attract traffic because of its location roughly 100 kilometers from the provincial capital, Bandung, and limited ground transportation links.

Indonesia's Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, said the central government supports the proposal and is working with the West Java provincial administration to redefine the roles of the region's two airports.

Under the plan, Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung would resume its position as the region's primary commercial airport, while Kertajati would be repurposed to maximize its strategic value for the defence sector.

The initiative also comes as Indonesian and US military officials are discussing plans for Indonesia to become a regional maintenance hub for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a move that could further strengthen the country's role in the regional aerospace and defence industry.

By Nazrin Sadigova