March 13, 2026 | 11:39 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Defense Ministry plans to utilize sections of toll roads and national highways across various regions in Indonesia as emergency runways for fighter jets. This policy is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness of emergency runways to support national defense.
"This concept is crucial to maintain readiness in the archipelagic regions," said Deputy Defense Minister Air Marshal (Ret.) Donny Ermawan Taufanto, as quoted by Antara on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
According to Donny, every large island should have multiple alternative landing points to ensure continuous combat operations even if the main airbases are disrupted. The Defense Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Works to adjust the specifications of existing and future toll roads.
These toll roads will be designed to meet the technical specifications of emergency runways for aircraft and tailored to defense requirements. "In the future, in the construction of toll roads, we will adjust the specifications to meet the runway requirements," Donny stated.
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the Indonesian Air Force successfully conducted a test landing of fighter jets on the Terpeka Section of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road. The two Air Force fighter jets involved in the test landing and takeoff were the EMB-314 Super Tucano and the F-16.
The two types of fighter jets tested have different characteristics. The Super Tucano is a turboprop aircraft used by the Air Force for air patrols, reconnaissance, and close air support. Meanwhile, the F-16 is a supersonic fighter aircraft that serves as the mainstay of the national air defense.
Donny explained that this test landing and takeoff of fighter jets on a toll road was the first of its kind in Indonesia. According to him, this test serves as a significant milestone in strengthening the national defense system, particularly in preparing civil infrastructure for defense purposes during emergency situations.
"The width of the toll road is only about 24 meters, significantly narrower than airport runways, which can reach 45 to 60 meters. This poses certain risks, but the Air Force pilots have been trained for narrow conditions, and the results have been safe," Donny remarked.
Read: TNI Ends High Alert: Troops Shift Focus to Eid Security
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