F-16C/D Aircraft to Strengthen Natuna's Air Defense

Pekanbaru, Riau (Antara Babel) - Several F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighter jets will be stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Riau to strengthen the air defense capabilities over the Natuna Islands.

The F-16C/D fighter jets will be replacing the F-16A/B, the older variants of the single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin.

"The F-16C/D aircraft will be fully operational at Roesmin Nurjadin to support the Natuna Islands (air defense)," Commander of Roesmin Nurjadin First Marshal Henri Alfandi said here on Saturday.

As many as nine F-16C/D fighter jets have arrived at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, while several of them were still being prepared at the Iswahyudi Air Base in Madiun, East Java.

They were currently undergoing maintenance and several modifications, such as having their air brakes adjusted to Roermin Nurjadin's landing strip, which is rather short and measures around 2,600 meters.

For the C/D variants to operate optimally, at least a 3,000 meter-long air strip is needed, Alfandi said.

Meanwhile, the Commander of Air Force Operations Command I, Air Vice Marshal Yuyu Sutisna said although the Air Force still lacks pilots capable of operating the Fighting Falcons, he expects the F-16C/D squadron to be fully operational soon at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base.

The F-16 is a single-engine, highly maneuverable, supersonic, multi-role tactical fighter aircraft; it was designed to be a cost-effective combat "workhorse" that can perform various missions and maintain around-the-clock readiness.

The F-16 aircraft have been in active duty and involved in numerous missions by the U.S Air Force, The Royal Netherlands Air Force, Belgian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Pakistan Air Force, and the Venezuela Air Force.