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Indonesia tests F-16 and Super Tucano landings on toll roads to create emergency runways

Indonesia’s air force has trialled F-16 and A-29 Super Tucano landings on a public toll road, testing conversion of highways into emergency runways to enable dispersed operations across the archipelago. The demonstrations aim to provide mobile, carrier-like basing options for combat aircraft.

Discovered 2026-02-11T16:34:16.888795-08:00 | 2026-02-11T16:34:16.888795-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Tests validate a dispersal concept that reduces reliance on fixed bases and could increase operational resilience across Indonesia’s widely dispersed islands; this follows regional fleet modernisation pressures seen in Southeast Asia (source:9ab4dc8d-92a7-4863-bc1c-edf142f84e81).
  • Demonstrations involved F-16 and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and sit alongside Jakarta’s recent fighter acquisitions, including the first Rafale deliveries, indicating shifting force structure and basing requirements (source:99122e64-070a-4e64-ba85-95b30a8f26c3).
  • The highway-runway trials occur amid ongoing talks and proposals for further combat aircraft and armed drone purchases, linking operational concepts to procurement and partnership decisions (source:7f902aea-9b58-42b6-ab8a-acb4dda382bf).

Reported By

aerospaceglobalnews.com defencesecurityasia.com AeroTime spacewar.com defensemirror.com Janes
Sources Tracked
10
First Seen
2026-02-11T16:34:16.888795-08:00
Latest Update
2026-02-13T06:55:50.354794-08:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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