The final six F-16s are scheduled to be delivered to Indonesian Air Force by the end of 2017
On Mar. 14, 2017 the fifth of six “ferry cells” to deliver F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the Ogden Air Logistics Complex (Ogden ALC) to the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) departed Hill Air Force Base (AFB).
The ferry cell, made by four aircraft – three C-models (single-seat) and one D-model (dual-seat) – which arrived in Indonesia on Mar. 17, marked the completion of another major milestone for F-16 Indonesia Regeneration Program, explained Alex R. Lloyd, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, in his article Hill AFB regenerates F-16s for Indonesian Air Force.
The program, managed by F-16 System Program Office International Branch Program Office located at Hill, is the result of a Foreign Military Sales deal to deliver 24 Block-25 variant F-16s to Indonesia by the end of this year.
Originally flown by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) units, the Vipers involved in the program have been stored for several years at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) open-air storage area at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Each jet had circa 5,000 training and combat hours on its wings before being retired.
In preparation for regeneration, each aircraft was carefully dismantled, prepared, and shipped in crates 800 miles north of Davis-Monthan to Hill AFB.
The Ogden ALC’s 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is responsible for the restoration and began its work in 2013.
Prior to be delivered to Indonesia, each aircraft, that has received a myriad of new and upgraded components (such as a new set of wings, horizontal stabilizers, and landing gear, along with numerous structural and avionics capability enhancements) has to perform rigorous flight tests.
This latest ferry cell brings the total number of F-16s delivered to Indonesia to 18.
Noteworthy, the final six aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to TNI-AU by the end of 2017 and are currently in various stages of regeneration and modification.
TNI-AU was offered 24 ex-USAF F-16s for free (but to be be upgraded similar to the latest Block 50/52 variant with payment) during the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama on 9–10 November 2010 in Jakarta.
In 1989 the service ordered 12 F-16A/Bs, of which only 10 remain in active service today. As we have rently reported one F 16B skidded off runway and overturned at Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase during landing after it conducted an exercise on Mar. 14, 2017.
Photo credit: Alex R. Lloyd / U.S. Air Force
